Compare towns
Meredith vs Calais vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($217k 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.
| Measure | Meredith | Calais | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,467Lowest |
1,713 |
1,859Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
52.4±6.9 35% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,938±$16kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$100,809±$24kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$216,800±$39kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,112±$329 21% below U.S. |
| Calais and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,630 16% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,452Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.5%±46.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.