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).

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	Needham
People
Population	19,902Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Grafton 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%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$11kLowest 26% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,117Lowest 19% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#67 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Grafton	Needham
High school in town	Grafton High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.