Compare towns
Athens vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Webster | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,227Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Webster 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. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,288±$174 9% below U.S. |
| Webster and Grafton 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,843Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Webster 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley School District | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.