Compare towns
Croydon vs Needham vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Croydon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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 | Croydon | Needham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 798Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Croydon and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21k 22% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,300±$33k 5% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $991±$336Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,239 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Croydon School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.