What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).

Union has the most kids (24.9% 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	Union
People
Population	666Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S.	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Grafton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below U.S.	$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average
	Union and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S.	$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Grafton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Grafton and Union 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.	$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Grafton and Union 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%	10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Union and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Grafton School District	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.