Classic New England charm in Grafton
Hidden between the peaks of the Green Mountains and the Saxtons River, Grafton is an idyllic small resort town in Southern Vermont. Rolling hills, streaming rivers and classic New England charm make this community of approximately 650 residents a sought-after destination for romantic getaways, weekend warriors and nature lovers. "Grafton is a quintessential Vermont town," says Trent Stephens, a Realtor with Wohler Realty Group, who has been in the industry since 2020. "Tourism has always been the draw to Grafton. Most people headed there tend to stay in their small historic inn, explore the area and soak up the views."
Founded in 1754, Grafton was once a waypoint for travelers headed west to Albany or north to Montreal. Its popularity as a rest stop led to the establishment of The Grafton Inn in 1801, which has welcomed notable figures across the centuries, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. The Inn continues to be a cornerstone of the community today, making it one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the nation.
Like a historic town frozen in time, Grafton's quiet Main Street features a pristine collection of restored 1800s colonial buildings. Most of Grafton's preservation efforts stem back to The Windham Foundation, which was established in 1963 by Dean Mathey, a New Yorker who spent summers in town. In addition to the Inn, the Foundation oversees the Grafton Village Cheese Company, the Grafton Forge blacksmith shop and the Grafton Trails and Recreation Center, further promoting a thriving tourism industry in an otherwise declining rural economy.
The Grafton Village Historic District and nearby amenities
The village center, or the Grafton Village Historic District, was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. The Grafton Inn anchors the village, which spans several blocks along Main Street and Grafton Road. The Inn is home to two of the town's three restaurants. Phelp's Barn Pub offers year-round farm-to-table fare in a homey rustic setting. The inn is also home to the 1801 Tavern, which offers a more casual setting with a cozy bar area and the same seasonal menu.
Behind the inn, the Grafton Village Cheese Company continues the town's dairy legacy with award-winning aged cheddars. The cheese shop shares a building with Mercantile, a small gift shop that showcases local Vermont artisans. Additional historic buildings house small establishments like the Grafton Historical Society, the Grafton Library, an auto shop and the Nature Museum.
The Nature Museum features interactive exhibits, a pollinator garden and a Magic Forest playscape. It also offers summer camps for kids and preschool programs. The museum hosts a Fairy Garden Festival each September to raise funds for its programs. During the event, patrons can explore the fairy house trail, make their own house or enjoy a range of local vendors.
MKT Grafton is another community staple housed in the village's old general store. "For such a small town, there's a great country store," Stephens says. In addition to everyday staples, MKT offers a range of craft beers, wine and freshly baked sandwiches for breakfast and lunch crowds. Outside the village, nearby farms offer a range of homemade products, such as classic Vermont maple syrup at Plummer's Sugar House and fresh eggs, ice cream and meat at Idyll Acres Farmstand. Chain grocers and additional restaurants are about 15 miles northeast in Springfield, and big-box stores like Walmart Supercenter are about 30 miles away.
Year-round recreation around the village
Grafton's natural surroundings provide year-round opportunities for outdoor recreation. "In the summer and even the dead of winter, you can go to Grafton and experience a bustling little town," Stephens says. "The only times there's a bit of a lull is during mud season when you're waiting for spring to start." In the village center, the Grafton Inn features pickleball courts that are also open to residents, while a ball field and soccer field cater to youth leagues down the street. The sports fields border Grafton Village Park, a 56-acre green space with hiking trails, picnic areas and a gazebo.
Farther south, the Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center greets visitors with open meadows and a swimming pond with a floating dock. The center encompasses a large swath of the nearly 1,200 acres overseen by the Windham Foundation, with its grounds open to the public for hiking, mountain biking, swimming and disc golf. In the winter, snow-blanketed trails attract cross-country skiers, snowshoers, tubers and sleigh riders. Although the trails are open to all during summer, visitors not staying at the inn must pay a small fee for winter trail access. Surrounding state forests and wildlife management areas offer additional areas for hiking, wildlife watching and hunting.
Historic village homes and secluded log cabins
The Grafton Village Historic District, which spans Main Street and its nearby roads, features a mix of well-preserved early-to-mid-19th-century buildings. Sprawling colonial-style farmhouses intermingle with colonial-style homes with Federal and Greek Revival elements. Private owners and the Windham Foundation have carefully restored nearly every building to its former glory. Most properties in the village sit on roomy lots with prices ranging from the upper-$500,000s to the upper-$700,000s. Outside the village, rural roads give way to secluded mountain retreats, ranging from rustic log cabins to restored farmhouses and the occasional contemporary design. These properties can range from the low-$200,000s to the $700,000s, depending on size, location and acreage, while manufactured houses can sell for under $200,000. Grafton boasts a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score.
Windham Northeast Supervisory Union's small class sizes
The Windham Northeast Supervisory Union enrolls approximately 1,000 students across several school districts and four towns, including Grafton, Athens, Westminster and Rockingham. Grafton Elementary School, which scores a B-minus from Niche, sits in the heart of town. Fifth through eighth graders may then attend Bellows Falls Middle School, which earns a C-minus, and Bellows Falls Union High School, which does not have a Niche score. The Windham Northeast Supervisory Union also implements a farm-to-cafeteria program district-wide, sourcing ingredients from local farms for use in the school cafeteria.
Getting around Grafton
Grafton's village center is walkable, but the town is car dependent. Vermont State Route 121 and State Route 35 converge in the heart of town, connecting residents to Springfield Hospital about 15 miles north and to Brattleboro, 30 miles south. Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport, which offers daily commuter flights to Boston, is about 40 miles away, while Connecticut's Bradley International Airport is about 110 miles south via Interstate 91.
