Compare towns
Windham vs Franklin vs Worcester vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Windham | Franklin | Worcester | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,590Highest |
831 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Windham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.