Compare towns
Worcester vs Northbridge 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
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Worcester | Northbridge | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
16,458 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$7,117Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northbridge | Grafton |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.