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Lutheran Church Grafton ,IAPhoto: l.l.COOK · Public domain
Town Hall · Grafton

Grafton spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Grafton’s city government spent $326,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,342 per resident. Water and other utilities ($270,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$326,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,342
In 2022: $1,342, more than 82% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$481,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
1
full-time · 8 part-time · March payroll $7,980
Typical tax bill
$1,232
1.32% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Grafton is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,342 per resident, more than 82% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer56% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares St. Ansgar Community School District with 3 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,232 a year: 1.32% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,342 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them

Grafton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,342 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $900, and the middle half spent $632–$1,186. Grafton spent more than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $632–$1,186Median $900Grafton

Includes sewer and trash ($63,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
802

Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Grafton itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,342 per resident a year, or $3.68 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 34%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 45%Interest, fines & other 13%Fees & charges 12%Property taxes 10%From the state 7%Sales taxes 5%From other local governments 5%From the federal government 3%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $11,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $607,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

Grafton reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,232 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.32% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Grafton$1,232
$1,232
typical bill a year
1.32%
effective rate
$93,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Grafton’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Grafton’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Grafton →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Grafton

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

Check Grafton’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Grafton yet.
Who works for Grafton

One full-time city employee for every 243 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (243).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Administration & buildings0 + 7 pt
Water & other utilities1
Parks & libraries0 + 1 pt
1
full-time
8
part-time
$7,980
payroll for March 2022
$95,760
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$68,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Grafton had 4.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 648 of the 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 2.8: Grafton had more than 61% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

St. Ansgar Community School District

Grafton’s K–12 school district, shared with Carpenter, St. Ansgar, Stacyville. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Grafton →
$13,302
per pupil · IA $13,713
610
students
$7.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,302 per pupil, $8,784 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 58%State 37%Federal 5%

Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Grafton’s votes are counted by county

Iowa reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Grafton alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Worth County’s results.

President · Worth County’s results4,278 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican63.5%2,715 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat35.3%1,508 votes

Others: 1.3% (55 votes).

Most votes in Worth County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Grafton lies in Worth County. Every 2024 race in Worth County is on the county’s page.

Worth County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Grafton

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Grafton.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Jane Bloomingdale
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Doug Campbell
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Ashley Hinson
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
    Chuck GrassleyJoni Ernst

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Grafton’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Grafton’s government

How much does Grafton spend per resident?

About $1,342 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,342 was more than 82% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Grafton?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,232 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.32% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Grafton’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Grafton yet.

How did Grafton vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Grafton alone. Worth County, where 100% of Grafton lies, voted Trump 63.5%, Harris 35.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Grafton?

1 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $7,980 (about $95,760 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Grafton in the state legislature?

State Senate District 30 (Doug Campbell) and State House District 60 (Jane Bloomingdale). The House district also covers 20 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Grafton’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →