Compare towns
Windham vs Waitsfield vs Ripton 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%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Waitsfield | Ripton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,918Highest |
508Lowest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,111±$7kLowest 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$343,200±$85kLowest 8% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.