Compare towns
Grafton vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Ogunquit | Needham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902 |
1,379Lowest |
32,459Highest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 63% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kLowest 58% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117 128% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | — | Needham | Ashland |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | — | Needham High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.