Compare towns
Troy vs Needham 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
Troy has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Troy | Needham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,005 |
32,459Highest |
1,354Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,871±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,600±$39kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,229Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,239 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.1%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | — | — |
| 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.