Compare towns
Grafton vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Needham | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| 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% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Needham | Stoneham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Needham High | Stoneham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9 |
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.