Compare towns
Windham vs Wells vs Williston 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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Wells | Williston | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,148 |
10,144Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Williston 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 |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,288±$174Lowest 4% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.