Compare towns
Stoneham vs Eliot 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 expensive homes ($672k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Eliot | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
7,146Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| 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 102% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,117Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Grafton 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | None in town | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.