Grafton

Grafton CountyUpper ValleyPopulation: 1,385

Overview

Grafton is a small, rural town in Grafton County near Mount Cardigan, with forested hills and a modest historic village center. The town has no significant commercial development.

Mount Cardigan State Forest offers hiking close to town, while Grafton's rural roads connect to Canaan and Enfield for shopping and services. The town's low density keeps it quiet.

Housing in Grafton remains affordable, drawing families and outdoor enthusiasts who want Mount Cardigan access at a low cost.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Mountain access
  • Affordable
  • Rural character
  • Hiking trails

Cons

  • Limited services
  • No downtown
  • Small population

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Grafton.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$15.83
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$16.08
Equalization ratio: 102%
Municipal
$3.22
Local School
$10.74
State Education
$0.93
County
$0.94

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$15.83$16.08$3.22$10.74$0.93$0.94

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$3,958$330
$350,000$5,541$462
$500,000$7,915$660
$750,000$11,873$989
$1,000,000$15,830$1,319

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $15.83 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
77.1°F
Winter Avg High
32.7°F
Annual Snowfall
70.2 in
Annual Rainfall
47.1 in
Sunny Days/Year
256
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
117 mi
~140 min drive
Manchester
67 mi
~83 min drive
Portsmouth
109 mi
~132 min drive
Concord
38 mi
~64 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMapUpdated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
28/100
Trail Miles
9.3
0
Boat Launches
3
State Parks
2
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:2

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income
$72,500
Per Capita Income
$39,186
Median Family Income
$74,196

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$212,900
Median Rent
$982/mo
Homeownership Rate
90.25%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate
6.94%
In Labor Force
648

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.03%
Total with Degree
147

👥Demographics

Median Age
49.9 years
Avg Household Size
2.49 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year)Census Data Year: 2022Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Grafton with Other Towns

See how Grafton stacks up against other NH communities.