Compare towns
Grafton vs Worcester vs Springfield
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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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 | Worcester | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354Highest |
831Lowest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$22k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grafton 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239 68% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.