Compare towns
Grafton vs Cornish vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Grafton | Cornish | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
1,816Highest |
916Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
44.5±12.9 about the NH average |
| Cornish and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±11.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $81,563±$22k 18% below NH |
$91,821±$2kHighest 7% below NH |
$81,429±$36kLowest 18% below NH |
| Cornish and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23k 34% below NH |
$296,000±$69kHighest 26% below NH |
$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
| Cornish and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163Highest 17% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
| Grafton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239 21% below NH |
$5,796Highest 13% below NH |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dalton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Cornish School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.