What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

Petersburgh has the most affordable homes ($170k 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.

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

Measure	Grafton	Petersburgh
People
Population	1,859Highest	1,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.4±6.9Highest 32% above NY	51.3±6.3Lowest 29% above NY
	Grafton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%	16%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Grafton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.8%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Petersburgh and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33%Highest NY: 40.2%	20%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Petersburgh and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,809±$24kHighest 17% above NY	$77,692±$15kLowest 10% below NY
	Grafton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$216,800±$39kHighest 49% below NY	$170,300±$23kLowest 60% below NY
	Grafton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,112±$329Highest 31% below NY	$1,100±$630Lowest 32% below NY
	Grafton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,452Highest 48% below NY	$3,223Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.5%±46.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	43.2%±42.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Petersburgh and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NY: 14%	5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	30 minLowest 9% below NY
Work from home	9.7%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%	8.3%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Grafton and Petersburgh 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

NY 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.