Compare towns
Grafton vs Hudson vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Hudson | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902 |
20,077Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Hudson 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% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 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+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Sutton 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% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Hudson 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 |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% 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 | $525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Grafton and Sutton 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 |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Grafton and Hudson 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 |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Hudson | Sutton |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Hudson High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.2Lowest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.