Grafton, IA vs Stratford, IA

Stratford is moderately more affordable than Grafton, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. Grafton scores 59 compared to 56 for Stratford, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Grafton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Grafton is $655/month compared to $580/month in Stratford — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Stratford is more affordable at $81,100 median vs $94,600.

Median household income in Grafton is $52,188 compared to $40,833 in Stratford (+27.8%). While Grafton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Grafton spend roughly 15.1% of their income on rent, less than the 17% in Stratford.