Compare towns
Grafton vs Sutton vs Fairlee
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Sutton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
9,452Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Fairlee 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Fairlee 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Fairlee 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Fairlee 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Sutton | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.