What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).

Grafton has the most affordable homes ($343k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strafford	Grafton
People
Population	1,372Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT
	Grafton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	48.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%	7.1%±5Highest VT: 7%
	Grafton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT	$343,200±$85kLowest 8% above VT
	Strafford and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT	$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT
	Grafton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 42% above VT	$4,843Lowest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%	53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Grafton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	89.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	24 minHighest 4% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9%	15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Strafford and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford School District	Athens Grafton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

VT 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.