Compare towns
Grafton vs Whitman 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%).
Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Whitman | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902 |
15,295Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6 about the MA average |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
| Stoneham and Grafton 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% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Whitman 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% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Whitman 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 |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Grafton and Stoneham 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 |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117Highest 19% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Grafton 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Whitman-Hanson | 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 Our Story | 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.