Compare towns
Waltham vs Appleton vs Rupert 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
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Grafton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Waltham | Appleton | Rupert | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,360Highest |
676 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7 49% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4 52% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.