What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k median).

Oswego has the most kids (21.9% under 18).

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	Oswego
People
Population	666Lowest	17,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S.	35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S.
Kids under 18	5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Oswego and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,111±$7kHighest 6% below U.S.	$53,172±$4kLowest 34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S.	$120,600±$7kLowest 64% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,109±$72Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Grafton and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Highest 55% above U.S.	$3,362Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Oswego and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Grafton and Oswego 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	—	#285 of 484 in NY
School district	Athens Grafton School District	OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.