The Town FilesGrafton, Massachusetts
Town in Worcester County · population 19,664 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $525,300
- Household income
- $131,484
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 41.1
Grafton is a town of 19,664 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $525,300, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for young professionals than 90% of Massachusetts towns, more of a college town than 77% of Massachusetts towns, more upscale than 73% of Massachusetts towns.
How Grafton ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Grafton is worth $525,300, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $131,484, which is more affordable than 74% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,504 a month. 73.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grafton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $525,300 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,504 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $131,484 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.2% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Grafton
| People | Grafton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.7% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 22.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 32.9 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Grafton
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grafton since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 9, 1953 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 90. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 90 deaths and 1,233 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 23, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Worcester County since 1996
Worcester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Worcester County
Worcester County had 351,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Grafton itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Grafton
6 public schools with 3,050 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grafton High School | 9-12 | 891 | 12.7 |
| Millbury Street Elementary School | 2-6 | 589 | 12.3 |
| North Street Elementary School | 2-6 | 568 | 13.2 |
| Grafton Middle | 7-8 | 459 | 12.8 |
| South Grafton Elementary | PK-1 | 291 | 13.9 |
| North Grafton Elementary | PK-1 | 252 | 14.0 |
Towns near Grafton
- Upton, MA4.2 mi · 3,090 people · home $476,300
- Upton, MA4.7 mi · 8,000 people · home $576,700
- Millbury, MA5.0 mi · 13,831 people · home $450,100
- Westborough, MA5.3 mi · 4,255 people · home $584,900
- Westborough, MA5.5 mi · 21,567 people · home $685,300
- Shrewsbury, MA5.5 mi · 38,325 people · home $592,300
- Northbridge, MA5.7 mi · 16,335 people · home $448,600
- Whitinsville, MA6.3 mi · 6,750 people · home $449,600
Grafton questions
Is Grafton, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grafton scores better for retirees than 54% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 26%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Grafton?
The median owner-occupied home in Grafton is valued at $525,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $131,484, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,504 a month.
What is the weather like in Grafton?
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 48.3 inches of snow.
Does Grafton get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grafton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)