What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Grafton	Whitman
People
Population	19,902Highest	15,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6Highest about the MA average	40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average
	Grafton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Grafton and Whitman 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.2Lowest 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±$11kHighest 26% above MA	$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA
	Grafton and Whitman 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	$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Lowest 15% 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	$7,117Highest 19% above MA	$5,824Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Whitman and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#67 of 282 in MA	#191 of 282 in MA
School district	Grafton	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Grafton High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
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.