Compare towns
Grafton vs Windham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Windham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902 |
16,038Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 63% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kLowest 58% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117 128% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Windham School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Windham High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.