The Town FilesGrafton, Wisconsin
Village in Ozaukee County · population 12,094 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $328,800
- Household income
- $89,861
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 41.5
Grafton is a village of 12,094 people in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $328,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 94% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Wisconsin towns.
How Grafton ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Grafton is worth $328,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $89,861, which is more affordable than 23% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,310 a month. 61.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grafton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $328,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,310 | $951 |
| Median household income | $89,861 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 61.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Grafton
| People | Grafton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Grafton
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grafton since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 22, 1964 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 10, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 23, 2004.
Severe weather in Ozaukee County since 1996
Ozaukee County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ozaukee County
Ozaukee County had 41,266 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,909 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Grafton itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Grafton
4 public schools with 2,132 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grafton High | 9-12 | 720 | 16.4 |
| Kennedy Elementary | PK-5 | 517 | 17.2 |
| Woodview Elementary | PK-5 | 457 | 13.4 |
| John Long Middle | 6-8 | 438 | 14.6 |
Towns near Grafton
- Grafton, WI2.2 mi · 4,355 people · home $497,000
- Cedarburg, WI2.5 mi · 12,121 people · home $422,000
- Cedarburg, WI3.5 mi · 6,162 people · home $473,800
- Saukville, WI4.7 mi · 4,258 people · home $299,600
- Port Washington, WI5.5 mi · 12,353 people · home $296,300
- Thiensville, WI6.1 mi · 3,290 people · home $352,100
- Mequon, WI8.3 mi · 25,142 people · home $501,600
- Jackson, WI8.6 mi · 4,629 people · home $417,700
Grafton questions
Is Grafton, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grafton scores better for retirees than 70% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 7%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Grafton?
The median owner-occupied home in Grafton is valued at $328,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,861, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,310 a month.
What is the weather like in Grafton?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 42.3 inches of snow.
Does Grafton get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grafton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 22, 1964. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)