Compare towns
Windham vs Reading vs Randolph 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Randolph | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
699 |
4,843Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Reading 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% |
17.3%±4.4 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%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%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% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Grafton 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 |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$76,111±$7kLowest 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 |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% 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±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Randolph 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 |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Randolph 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs 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 |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.