Compare towns
Stoneham vs Suffield vs Dedham vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Dedham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
15,702Lowest |
25,237Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Dedham | Grafton |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Dedham High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
10.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.