Compare towns
Windham vs Ripton vs Castleton 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%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Ripton | Castleton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Castleton 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Ripton 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 | 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.