Compare towns
Grafton vs Needham vs Athens
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 oldest population (median age 59.2).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Needham | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666 |
32,459Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174 9% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,438 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.