Compare towns

Windham vs Worcester vs Newark 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 highest household income ($95k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).
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.

MeasureWindhamWorcesterNewarkGrafton
People
Population
594Lowest
831Highest
727
666
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+0.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
47±2.7
9% above VT
41.4±6Lowest
4% below VT
59.2±4.4Highest
37% above VT
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
22%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
5.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Newark 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%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.9%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
34.2%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
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
$72,929±$7kLowest
10% 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±$27k
14% below VT
$229,900±$23kLowest
27% below 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±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,708±$97Highest
38% above VT
$1,288±$174
4% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,421
12% below VT
$3,771Lowest
25% below VT
$4,843
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
7.1%±100Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
22.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
89.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
34 minHighest
44% above VT
24 minLowest
4% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.8%±8.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.8%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Windham 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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 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.