Compare towns
Grafton vs Northbridge vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Northbridge | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902Highest |
16,458 |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6 about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Northbridge 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Whitman 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Grafton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117Highest 19% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Grafton and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.