Compare towns
Windham vs Worcester vs Dover 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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Worcester | Dover | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
831 |
1,466Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| 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 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Worcester 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.