Compare towns
Grafton vs Strafford vs Sutton
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 the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Strafford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354Lowest |
4,306Highest |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Sutton 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Grafton 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton and Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.