Compare towns
Meredith vs Worcester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Grafton has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Worcester | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,467 |
831Lowest |
1,859Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Meredith 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,809±$24kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Meredith 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. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$216,800±$39kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,112±$329Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Worcester 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. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,452Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.5%±46.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest 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. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest 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.