Compare towns
Millbury vs Nelson 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
Millbury has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961 |
648Lowest |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$525,300±$37kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$7,117Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | #202 of 282 in MA | — | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Nelson School District | Grafton |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | None in town | 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 |
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.