LivabilityCalc
Find Your City
City Housing Verdict

Grafton, OH

Manageable

The cost of living in Grafton, OH is 5% below the national average (Cost Index: 95). Homes here are typically valued around $301,257, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $88,352 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Grafton looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 14% rent burden, 3.4x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 99. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Grafton.

Monthly Housing
$1,048/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
14%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$5,815/mo
After housing and debt · $1,938/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 21%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
95
Average
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$301,257
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $198,500
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,048/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$88,352
National: $78,538
Population
5,665
Purchasing Power
118
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
99 / 100
Close to average
Rent Index
78 / 100
22% below average
Goods & Groceries
94 / 100
6% cheaper than average
Utilities
96 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
95
Average

Grafton Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $301,257 and Ohio's property tax rate of 1.53%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$88,352
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
14%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
3.4x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Grafton looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Grafton, OH

Est. Annual Property Tax
$4,609
Monthly Impact
$384
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.53%
National avg: ~1.00%

Ohio Place Tax Context

Tax TypeOhioNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.53%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate3.5%~5.0%
State Sales Tax7.24%~5.0%

Compare Grafton to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Grafton, OH
95
78
Loading cities...
---
---

Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Grafton, OH: 99
Rent Prices
78

FAQ: Living in Grafton

What is the cost of living like in Grafton, OH?+

Living costs in Grafton land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 95 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $301,257, and typical monthly rents run around $1,048. Groceries and utilities are slightly below what you would find in most US cities.

How does Grafton fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,048, while local median household income is $88,352. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 14% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Grafton, OH?+

Ohio has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 3.5%. The effective property tax rate is 1.53%. On a home worth $301,257, that translates to roughly $4,609 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.24% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Grafton, OH?+

The typical monthly rent in Grafton is around $1,048. That's roughly 22% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $301,257, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Grafton, OH?+

The median home in Grafton is valued at $301,257. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,523/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 79% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Grafton?+

Grocery prices in Grafton are more affordable compared to the rest of the US (index: 94, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 96). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Grafton, OH like to live in?+

Grafton is a small town with a population of about 5,665. The median age of residents is 42.5, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 8.38%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Ohio

If Grafton feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Ohio

Use these city pages when you want to compare Grafton against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly