Compare towns
Hebron vs Townsend vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hebron has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Grafton has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Hebron | Townsend | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,751Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.2 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.4±6.9Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hebron and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,205±$4kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$100,809±$24k 25% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,800±$26kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$216,800±$39k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$120Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,112±$329 21% 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 | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,452Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.7%±67.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.5%±46.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hebron and Townsend 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 | — | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.