Compare towns
Stoneham vs Danvers vs Danvers 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 people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Danvers | Danvers | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
28,098Highest |
28,098Highest |
19,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest 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±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
| Grafton and Danvers 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 |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Stoneham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.