Compare towns
Grafton vs Needham vs Ashland
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Needham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902 |
32,459Highest |
18,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
| Needham and Ashland 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashland and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland and Needham 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 |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Ashland 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | — | Ashland |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | — | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| 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.