Compare towns
Dedham vs Grafton vs Ogunquit vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
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 | Dedham | Grafton | Ogunquit | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
19,902 |
1,379Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 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+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37kLowest 58% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
— | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA | — | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Grafton | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Grafton High School | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | 10.7 |
| 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.