Compare towns
Athens vs Walpole vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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.
| Measure | Athens | Walpole | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
3,690Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,843Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Grafton 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.