Compare towns
Waltham vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the most kids (17% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,467Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6Lowest 40% 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% |
17%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Waltham 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% |
30.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%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% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Waltham 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. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Meredith 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 |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Waltham 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. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Meredith 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Athens Grafton School District |
| 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.