Compare towns
Stoneham vs Hingham vs Grafton vs Wakefield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Hingham | Grafton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
24,283 |
19,902Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Grafton 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Hingham | Grafton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Hingham High | Grafton High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.