What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orford has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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	Orford	Grafton
People
Population	1,295Lowest	1,354Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH	43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average
	Orford and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%	21%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Orford and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest NH: 40.6%	24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Orford and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH	$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH
	Orford and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,900±$25kHighest 32% below NH	$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH
	Orford and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH	$1,243±$163Lowest 17% below NH
	Orford and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Highest 12% below NH	$5,239Lowest 21% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Orford and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	83.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	43 minHighest 62% above NH
Work from home	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Grafton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	—
High school in town	Rivendell Academy	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.