Compare towns
Grafton vs Colrain vs Townshend
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 the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Colrain | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 55% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Mohawk Trail | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.