Compare towns
Grafton vs Marblehead vs Upton 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%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Marblehead | Upton | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902 |
20,413 |
8,189Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Marblehead and Upton 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% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Upton 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% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Marblehead and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Marblehead 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Marblehead | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Marblehead High | Blackstone Valley | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.