What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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.

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

Measure	Grafton	Mansfield
People
Population	19,902Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average	41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA
	Mansfield 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%	22.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Grafton and Mansfield 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%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Grafton and Mansfield 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%	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA	$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA
	Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average
	Mansfield and Grafton 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	$7,226Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Grafton and Mansfield 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 min 13% above MA	33 min 13% above MA
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Grafton and Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Grafton	Mansfield
High school in town	Grafton High School	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.1Lowest
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.