Compare towns
Windham vs Ware vs Chester vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Ware | Chester | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
6,369Highest |
2,992 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Chester 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 17% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
| Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.