Compare towns
Stoneham vs Epping vs Grafton vs Wakefield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Epping | Grafton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
7,430Lowest |
19,902 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Wakefield 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #67 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Epping School District | Grafton | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Epping High School | Grafton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.3Lowest |
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.