Compare towns
Stoneham vs Nahant vs Grafton
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).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Nahant | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
3,325Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest 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±$10k 10% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% 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±$26k 20% above MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Nahant and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Stoneham and Nahant 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 |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Nahant and Grafton 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Nahant | 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 |
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.