Compare towns
Millbury vs Dedham vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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.
| Measure | Millbury | Dedham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961Lowest |
25,237Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13kLowest 14% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
| Grafton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Grafton and Dedham 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 | #202 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | — | Grafton |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | — | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.