What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

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	Mansfield	Grafton
People
Population	23,931Highest	19,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA	41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average
	Mansfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	15.5%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA	$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA
	Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA	$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA
	Mansfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Highest 21% above MA	$7,117Lowest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	6.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 min 13% above MA	33 min 13% above MA
Work from home	20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Grafton and Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA	#67 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Grafton
High school in town	Mansfield High	Grafton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.