Compare towns
Windham vs Jay vs Castleton 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 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 | Jay | Castleton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%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% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Windham and Grafton 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% 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 | — | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Castleton 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% 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% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.