Compare towns
Grafton vs Hingham vs Stoneham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Hingham | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902Lowest |
24,283 |
23,355 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Hingham and Dedham 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Hingham and Dedham 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Dedham 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% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Hingham | Stoneham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Hingham High | Stoneham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.9Highest |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.