Compare towns
Windham vs Halifax vs Ripton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Halifax | Ripton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
7,748Highest |
508Lowest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$343,200±$85kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
— | $1,288±$174Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,843Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #120 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Halifax | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 |
U.S. 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.