Compare towns

Windham vs Whiting vs Strafford 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%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.

MeasureWindhamWhitingStraffordGrafton
People
Population
594
532Lowest
1,372Highest
666
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-0.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
51.4±4.7
19% above VT
59.2±4.4Highest
37% above VT
Grafton and Strafford 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%
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
5.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Strafford 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%
13%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
34.2%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
7.1%±5Highest
VT: 7%
Grafton and Whiting 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
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$76,111±$7kLowest
6% below VT
Strafford 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
$280,400±$36kLowest
11% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$343,200±$85k
8% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,204±$519
about the VT average
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
$1,288±$174Highest
4% above VT
Grafton and Whiting 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
$4,227Lowest
16% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,843
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
53.8%±69.4
VT: 48.4%
Whiting 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%
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
89.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
14% above VT
22 minLowest
7% below VT
23 min
about the VT average
24 min
4% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
15.8%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
Windham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Strafford School District 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.