Compare towns
Springfield vs Ashby 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
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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 | Springfield | Ashby | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
3,211Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashby and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,243±$163Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,239Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashby and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton and Ashby 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.