Compare towns
Stoneham vs Everett vs Grafton vs Dedham
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%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Everett | Grafton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
50,045Highest |
19,902Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.1±1.6 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Grafton 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Grafton and Dedham 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 |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Everett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Everett | Grafton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Everett High | Grafton High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.1 |
12.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.