What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoneham	Grafton
People
Population	23,355Highest	19,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	41.1±1.6Lowest 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%±2.5Lowest 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%	15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest 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	$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	$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA	$7,117Highest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Grafton and Stoneham 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%	6.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	22.4%±2.6Lowest 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	#67 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Grafton
High school in town	Stoneham High	Grafton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.