What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most affordable homes ($343k median).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	666Lowest	9,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S.	51.3±3.5Lowest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Grafton and Salisbury 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.	$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,200±$85kLowest 3% above U.S.	$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,288±$174Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salisbury 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%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Grafton 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	—	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Athens Grafton School District	Triton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.