Compare towns
Grafton vs Needham vs Upton vs Northbridge
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).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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.
| Measure | Grafton | Needham | Upton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902 |
32,459Highest |
8,189Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Upton and Northbridge 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%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 |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9 |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.