Compare towns
Grafton vs Worcester vs Sutton 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 the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Worcester | Sutton | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902 |
207,055Highest |
9,452Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%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 |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Sutton and Stoneham 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Sutton 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Sutton 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±$37k 7% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117Highest 19% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Sutton 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sutton | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | South High Community | Sutton High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
14.6Highest |
12.6 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.