Grafton vs Millbury
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $175k more for a 4BR in Grafton, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $175k for 31 MCAS percentile points inside the same tier.
Grafton is about 6 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak, and it has MBTA rail while Millbury does not. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Millbury works out roughly $2,700 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Grafton if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most, or you want a train.
All Grafton numbers →Choose Millbury if you want the lower price.
All Millbury numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsGrafton ahead on 4 of 9
| Grafton | Millbury | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 74th | 43rd |
| Student growth | 52nd | 46th |
| Graduation rate | 93.6% | 93.8% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 95th of 361 | 252nd of 361 |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $17,211 | $20,917 |
| Schools in the district | 5 | 2 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 9 | 6 |
What a home costsMillbury ahead on 5 of 6
| Grafton | Millbury | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $725kT2 | $550kT1 |
| 3BR townhouse | $560k | $425k |
| 2BR condo | $415k | $315k |
| 3BR rent | $2,850/mo | $2,450/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $200k | $152k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.2% a year | 6.7% a year |
What you pay the townMillbury ahead on 1 of 4
| Grafton | Millbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $13.69T3 | $13.00T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$9,900 | ≈$7,200 |
| Town spending per resident | $4,109 | $4,050 |
| Share of budget on schools | 60% | 49% |
Getting to workGrafton ahead on 3 of 3
| Grafton | Millbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 72 minT4 | 78 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~76 min to terminal | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 34 mi | 40 mi |
Before kindergartenGrafton ahead on 2 of 4, 1 against
| Grafton | Millbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 16 | 10 |
| Child care places | 624 | 303 |
| Centers vs family programs | 8 centers | 3 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 52 | 92 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Grafton | Millbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,664 | 13,831 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Compact center | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 3/10 |
| Culture | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Gathering places | 7/10 | 6/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
