What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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	Sturbridge
People
Population	19,902Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Grafton and Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Grafton and Sturbridge 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	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge 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±$37kHighest 7% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Highest 15% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Grafton and Sturbridge 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	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Grafton and Sturbridge 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%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Grafton and Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Grafton	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Grafton High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	7.7Lowest
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.