Compare towns
Windham vs Highgate vs Grafton vs Townshend
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).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Grafton has the most homeowners (89.9%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Highgate | Grafton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
3,528Highest |
666 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest 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 |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Grafton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%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% |
1.4%±0.8 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 |
$78,750±$29k 3% 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Grafton and Townshend 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Grafton 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% 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 |
1982Highest 6 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 |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.