Compare towns
Grafton vs Springfield vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Springfield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
1,122Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6 11% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.