Compare towns
Townshend vs Ware vs Windham 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
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Grafton has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Townshend | Ware | Windham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
6,369Highest |
594Lowest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
| Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 72% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | — | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.