Compare towns
Grafton vs Union vs Athens
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 the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Union | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666 |
2,663Highest |
431Lowest |
| 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. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%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% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| 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±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% 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±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537Lowest 20% 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 | $4,843 55% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% 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% |
43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Athens 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Union 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 | 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.