Compare towns
Dalton vs Exeter 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
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Dalton | Exeter | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916 |
913Lowest |
1,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dalton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$81,563±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$267,300±$23kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825 36% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,243±$163Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561 14% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,239Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.