Compare towns
Windham vs Sheldon vs Grafton vs Worcester
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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Sheldon | Grafton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,267Highest |
666 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Worcester 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Windham and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Windham 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Athens Grafton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.