Compare towns
Grafton vs Dover vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Grafton | Dover | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902 |
5,930Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Dover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Dover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Grafton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.