Compare towns
Ashland vs Sutton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashland | Sutton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
9,452Lowest |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Sutton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Sutton | Grafton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Sutton High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.6Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.