What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most kids (21% under 18).

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Grafton	Wilder
People
Population	1,354Lowest	3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	Wilder and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wilder 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 U.S.: 35.7%	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wilder 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±$22kHighest about the U.S. average	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Grafton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S.	$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Wilder 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 12% below U.S.	$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Grafton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,239Lowest 68% above U.S.	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±34.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1983 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	43 minHighest 64% above U.S.	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Grafton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.