Compare towns
Grafton vs Stoneham vs Ashland
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).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Stoneham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902 |
23,355Highest |
18,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
| Stoneham and Ashland 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% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Ashland 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% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Grafton and Ashland 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland 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 |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,444Highest 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Ashland 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Stoneham | Ashland |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Stoneham High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.