Compare towns
Ashland vs Ogunquit vs Stoneham 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k 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 | Ashland | Ogunquit | Stoneham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
1,379Lowest |
23,355Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37kLowest 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
— | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 139% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | — | Stoneham | Grafton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | — | Stoneham High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.