Compare towns
Stoneham vs Chicopee 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 most expensive homes ($672k median).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Chicopee | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
55,295Highest |
19,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Stoneham and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest 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+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Chicopee 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 MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% 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 | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Chicopee and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Chicopee | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.