Compare towns
Windham vs Putney vs Sheldon 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Putney | Sheldon | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,267 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
| Windham and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 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 | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Sheldon 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.