Living in Grafton, Massachusetts

Grafton is a town in Worcester County just southeast of the city of Worcester, incorporated in 1735 and named for Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton. It's made up of three distinct village areas — North Grafton, Grafton center and South Grafton — each with its own zip code, and Grafton Common anchors the town center.

Grafton center North Grafton South Grafton

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated September 25, 2026

Photo: Paul Keleher, CC BY 2.0

Grafton at a glance

$13.69Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
$9,086Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
10–15 minDrive to Worcester
WorcesterCounty

Grafton's villages and zip codes

Grafton has three zip codes: 01519 (Grafton center), 01536 (North Grafton) and 01560 (South Grafton).

Grafton villages and zip codes
Area	Zip code	Where it is
Grafton center	01519	The town center around Town Hall and Grafton Common.
North Grafton	01536	Home to the Willard House and Clock Museum, Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and the MBTA commuter rail station.
South Grafton	01560	A former mill village along the Blackstone River, including the Fisherville and Saundersville sections.

Things to do in Grafton, MA

Start with Willard House & Clock Museum and Grafton Common, then 1 more below.

Willard House & Clock Museum
The original workshop of the Willard clockmaking family, who began building clocks here in 1766. The museum displays more than 90 Willard clocks across three generations of the family's work; visits are by guided tour.
Seasonal
11 Willard Street, North Grafton, MA 01536
Plan a visit
Grafton Common
The town's historic common in the center of Grafton, surrounded by Town Hall and the First Parish Unitarian Church.
FreeYear-round
Main Street, Grafton, MA 01519
Silver Lake Beach
A town-managed lake beach run by the Grafton Recreation Department.
Seasonal
Grafton, MA
Plan a visit

More worth a visit

Nelson Memorial ParkA park and library building in North Grafton with fields and facilities available for reservation.Website

A little history

Grafton was incorporated in 1735 and named for Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton.

The Willard family of clockmakers began their trade in a North Grafton workshop in 1766; the building is preserved today as the Willard House and Clock Museum.

The Hassanamisco Reservation, roughly 3.5 acres of land in Grafton, is held by the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band, a state-recognized tribe.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Grafton

Grafton's outdoor recreation centers on Silver Lake and the Blackstone River corridor through South Grafton.

Silver Lake BeachLake beach managed by the Recreation Department.More information
Blackstone RiverRuns through South Grafton's former mill villages of Fisherville and Saundersville.

Walkability and getting around Grafton

Grafton center around the Common and Town Hall is walkable for civic errands, and North Grafton has some walkable blocks near the commuter rail station and Tufts veterinary school, but South Grafton and most residential areas require a car.

Drive times

Worcester, about 5 miles10–15 min
Worcester Regional Airport, about 8 miles15–20 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Grafton station, at 1 Pine Street in North Grafton, is on the MBTA Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line, with service to Worcester's Union Station and Boston's South Station.

Grafton property taxes

Grafton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.69 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,369 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $9,086, on an average assessed value of $663,695.

Grafton's FY2026 tax rates

$13.69per $1,000, residential

Residential$13.69 per $1,000
Average single-family assessed value$663,695
Average single-family tax bill$9,086
Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal year	Residential rate
FY2022	$16.88
FY2023	$15.71
FY2024	$14.31
FY2025	$13.94
FY2026	$13.69

Look up a Grafton property

FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
Town ClerkVital records and town records
Assessors' officeQuestions about a value
Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county

Buying a home in Grafton

What we check on a Grafton purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, water districts, smoke certificate.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Worcester County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans

Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

The Blackstone River corridor through South Grafton's Fisherville and Saundersville sections puts some low-lying, formerly industrial parcels in FEMA flood zones; check the flood map for a specific address. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Grafton

Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Grafton Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-839-4606 to schedule.

Grafton Fire Department page

Water districts

Two separate water districts

Water service in Grafton comes from either the Grafton Water District or the South Grafton Water District, not the town's Department of Public Works — confirm which district serves a specific address.

Smoke certificate

Fire Department inspection before closing

Massachusetts requires a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and smoke-certificate inspection before a home sale can close; in Grafton this is handled by the Fire Department.

Grafton Fire Department

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

Thinking about buying in Grafton?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Grafton address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan options Our process

Moving to Grafton: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Grafton.

WaterTwo independent water districts serve the town — the Grafton Water District and the South Grafton Water District — separate from the town Department of Public Works
Sewer or septicA separate town Sewer Department serves areas with municipal sewer; it operates independently of the DPW
Trash and recyclingGrafton runs curbside trash and recycling collection through hauler E.L. Harvey on a Pay-As-You-Throw system: residents buy official PAYT bags for weekly trash pickup, and recycling is collected every other week using a town-issued green bin.
Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV

Town Hall offices and contacts

Grafton Town Hall is at 30 Providence Road, Grafton, MA 01519. Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu 8:30am–4:30pm; Tue 8:30am–7pm; Fri 8:30am–1pm. Main line: 508-839-5335.

Grafton, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Grafton, MA?

Grafton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.69 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Grafton?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,476 a year at $13.69 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Grafton have a split tax rate?

No. Grafton uses a single rate of $13.69 per $1,000 for all property classes.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Grafton?

The average single-family tax bill in Grafton was $9,086 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $663,695.

Is trash pickup curbside in Grafton?

Yes, through hauler E.L. Harvey on a Pay-As-You-Throw system: weekly trash in official bags and biweekly recycling in a town-issued bin.

What zip codes cover Grafton?

01519 for Grafton center, 01536 for North Grafton and 01560 for South Grafton.

Is there a train station in Grafton?

Yes. Grafton station in North Grafton is on the MBTA Framingham/Worcester Line, with service to Worcester and Boston's South Station.

How far is Grafton from Worcester?

About 5 miles, roughly a 10–15 minute drive.

Who supplies water in Grafton?

One of two independent local water districts — the Grafton Water District or the South Grafton Water District — depending on the address.

Towns near Grafton

Neighbors of Grafton, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources

Wikipedia: Grafton, Massachusetts: en.wikipedia.org
Town of Grafton official website: grafton-ma.gov
Grafton Trash & Recycling: grafton-ma.gov
Grafton Fire Department: grafton-ma.gov
Grafton Board of Health: grafton-ma.gov
Grafton DPW/Engineering: grafton-ma.gov
Willard House & Clock Museum: willardhouse.org
Wikipedia: Grafton (MBTA station): en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia: Hassanamisco Indian Reservation: en.wikipedia.org
Grafton Recreation Department: grafton-ma.gov
Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
Photo: Paul Keleher, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Checked September 25, 2026.