Compare towns

Windham vs Highgate 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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
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.

MeasureWindhamHighgateGrafton
People
Population
594Lowest
3,528Highest
666
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-1.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
44±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
59.2±4.4Highest
37% above VT
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
5.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Highgate 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%
22.2%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
34.2%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
19.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
7.1%±5Highest
VT: 7%
Grafton and Highgate 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
$81,017±$14k
about the VT average
$76,111±$7kLowest
6% below VT
Windham and Highgate 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
$280,500±$21kLowest
11% 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 —
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
$1,288±$174Highest
4% above VT
Grafton and Highgate 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
$3,558Lowest
29% below VT
$4,843
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
30.5%±11.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
53.8%±69.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Grafton and Windham 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%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
24 minLowest
4% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±7.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.8%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
Windham and Grafton 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 — #43 of 70 in VT —
School district — Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Athens Grafton School District
High school in town — Missisquoi Valley Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.