Compare towns
Grafton vs Needham vs Sutton vs Mansfield
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 youngest population (median age 41.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Mansfield has the most renters (26.9% rent).
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 | Sutton | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902 |
32,459Highest |
9,452Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Sutton and Needham 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 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±$11k 26% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Sutton 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | — | Sutton | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | — | Sutton High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.6 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.