Compare towns

Windham vs Middlesex vs Townshend 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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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.

MeasureWindhamMiddlesexTownshendGrafton
People
Population
594Lowest
1,943Highest
1,538
666
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
55.6±9.6
29% above VT
59.2±4.4Highest
37% 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%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
12%±2.6
VT: 17.9%
5.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex 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%
20.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
34.2%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
52.1%
VT: 43.8%
48.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
7.1%±5Highest
VT: 7%
Grafton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$78,750±$29k
3% below VT
$76,111±$7kLowest
6% below VT
Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$287,200±$79kLowest
9% below VT
$343,200±$85k
8% above VT
Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
$1,074±$80Lowest
13% below VT
$1,288±$174
4% above VT
Middlesex and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
18% above VT
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$5,364
6% above VT
$4,843Lowest
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
53.8%±69.4
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%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
25 min
6% above VT
24 minLowest
4% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
28%±18.7
VT: 16.9%
15.8%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A Athens Grafton School District
High school in town — None in town Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.