Compare towns
Windham vs Jay vs Belvidere 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Jay | Belvidere | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
471 |
422Lowest |
666Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Windham and Belvidere 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% 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 | — | — | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,288±$174Lowest 4% above VT |
| Belvidere and Grafton 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school 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.