What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).

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	Grafton	Douglas
People
Population	19,902Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,484±$11kLowest 26% above MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
	Douglas and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA
	Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Highest 15% below MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
	Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,117Highest 19% above MA	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Grafton and Douglas 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	#67 of 282 in MA	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Grafton	Douglas
High school in town	Grafton High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.