Compare towns
Millbury vs Ware vs Sutton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Ware | Sutton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,961 |
10,048 |
9,452Lowest |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 14% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Sutton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA |
| Grafton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Millbury and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406 10% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Ware | Sutton | Grafton |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Sutton High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.1Lowest |
12.6 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.