Compare towns
Springfield vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Townsend | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grafton 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Grafton 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Grafton 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. |
$6,031Highest 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% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.