Compare towns
Grafton vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Upton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902Highest |
8,189Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±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±$11k 26% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
| 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±$169 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 | $7,117 19% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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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.