What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).

Westborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

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	Westborough
People
Population	19,902Lowest	21,944Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+18%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6Highest about the MA average	38.8±1.6Lowest 3% below MA
	Grafton and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Westborough and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9%	15.5%±1.7 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	65.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Grafton and Westborough 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	$141,944±$12kHighest 37% above MA
	Westborough 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±$37kLowest 7% below MA	$685,300±$31kHighest 22% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA	$2,106±$151Highest 20% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,117Lowest 19% above MA	$9,983Highest 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%	40.9%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Grafton and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3% MA: 10%	6.3% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	61.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.5%±3.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Westborough 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	#21 of 282 in MA
School district	Grafton	Westborough
High school in town	Grafton High School	Westborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.