Compare towns
Grafton vs Upton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Upton | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902 |
8,189Lowest |
23,355 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Upton 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±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% 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% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 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 |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stoneham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Blackstone Valley | Stoneham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.2 |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.