Compare towns
Grafton vs Dover vs Foxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Foxborough has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Grafton | Dover | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902Highest |
5,930Lowest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Dover and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Foxborough and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,843±$70 5% above MA |
| Dover and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117Lowest 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Foxborough and Grafton 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.