What stands out worked out from the figures below

Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k median).

Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Framingham	Grantham
People
Population	72,399Highest	3,465Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S.	50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	19.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Framingham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Grantham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Framingham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,419±$6kHighest 33% above U.S.	$106,403±$54kLowest 32% above U.S.
	Framingham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.	$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,033±$57 44% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Lowest 121% above U.S.	$7,605Highest 144% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1%	—
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Framingham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#229 of 282 in MA	#6 of 120 in NH
School district	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical	Grantham School District
High school in town	Framingham High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.