Compare towns
Grafton vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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 | Grafton | Lancaster | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902 |
8,606Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Lancaster and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Stoneham 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Lancaster and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Grafton 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Nashoba | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.