Compare towns
Stoneham vs Dudley 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).
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Dudley | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
11,929Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.1±1.6 about the MA average |
| Stoneham and Grafton 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Dudley 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% 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 |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dudley 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% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.