Compare towns
Grafton vs Townsend 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 homeowners (89.9%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Townsend | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Townsend 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±$85k 3% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174 9% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Grafton 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | North Middlesex | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.