Compare towns
Grafton vs Putnam vs Upton
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 youngest population (median age 41.1).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Putnam | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902Highest |
9,292 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117 128% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Grafton 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Putnam School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Putnam High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.