Compare towns
Windham vs Northfield vs Worcester 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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Northfield | Worcester | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
5,920Highest |
831 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Northfield 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% 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 | — | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Worcester 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.