Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
28% of residents are 65 or older in Grafton, above both the Illinois town median (19%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). 35% of the land in Grafton is conserved, where Illinois’ towns sit at 3.7% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. Its National Register listings include Ruebel Hotel and Grafton Bank. Grafton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Grafton beats most towns.
Census counts: 222 in 1850, a peak of 1,266 in 1860, 626 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1936 and 4 maps from 1927 on.
8 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Grafton, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Grafton.
Grafton’s trail density is 2.2 miles per square mile. 8.0 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
The FEMA risk score in Grafton is 89 of 100. Since 1979, 649 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Grafton.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Adults 18 to 34 are 11% of residents (23% statewide); people 65 and older are 28% of residents (17% statewide). Grafton has grown 21% since 2020, to 773 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 38% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Grafton.
| Grafton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 years | 40.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 38% | 29% | 29% |
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.9 points. Across Illinois, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Grafton | IL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.6% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.6% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 2.5% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.2% | 13.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.1% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.6% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 16.3% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.8% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 12.3% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.1% | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.3% | 25.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.5% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.5% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20.8% | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16.8% | 15.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 800, single groups can be off by several points
Grafton has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 22° and about 9 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents leave Grafton for work: only 10% work in town. Jobs based in Grafton grew to 342 in 2023, 65 more than in 2013. 4.8% of Grafton residents live below the poverty line.
| Grafton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $105,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 10% | 8.3% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
4 crimes were reported in Grafton in 2025: 4 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Grafton is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Grafton beats the Illinois average on 10 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7.
| Grafton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 35% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 82% | 78% | 79% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 33% | 33% |
| What stands out | Grafton | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.9% | 15.9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.5% | 13.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.5% | 7.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The typical Grafton home is worth about $272,000, up 5.4% in a year, 8% below the Illinois typical home.
| Grafton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $629 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 87% | 75% | 73% |
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Grafton. Close and well known come first.
Big draw30 mi State parkCahokia
Big draw27 mi Stadium & arenaThe Dome at America's Center
28 mi Stadium & arenaBusch Stadium
13 mi Ancient sitePiasa
27 mi National ParkGateway Arch National Park2.2M visitors a year
35 mi Theme parkMid America AdventureCahokia: Thank You (24 Millions ) views, CC BY 2.0 · The Dome at America's Center: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 · Busch Stadium: Lee Ann Ratledge, CC BY 4.0 · Piasa: Burfalcy, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gateway Arch National Park: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mid America Adventure: Chris Hagerman from New Port Richey, FL, US, CC BY 2.0
3 within 15 miles of the center of Grafton
About 3 of every 100 Grafton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
8 places in Grafton on the National Register of Historic Places.
City in Illinois, United States
Grafton is the oldest city in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. It is located near the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 626. Grafton is a part of the Metro-East region and Greater St. Louis.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Grafton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
2 notable people were born here, including Gladys T. Nisbet and Ray Atkeson.
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