Compare towns
Windham vs Highgate vs Montgomery 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.
| Measure | Windham | Highgate | Montgomery | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,047 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%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 |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4 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% |
33.9%±8.2 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$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±$691 27% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% 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 |
$4,326 14% 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% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest 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 |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.