Compare towns
Stoneham vs Acton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k 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 | Stoneham | Acton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
24,155Highest |
19,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Stoneham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Grafton |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| 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.