Compare towns
Windham vs Reading vs Ira 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Reading | Ira | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
699Highest |
381Lowest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Ira 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Ira 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Windham and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | 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.