Compare towns
Grafton vs Worcester vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Worcester | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354Highest |
831Lowest |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Dalton 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$81,429±$36k 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 | $267,300±$23k 20% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Worcester 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239Highest 68% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7Highest 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 | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.