Compare towns
Stoneham vs Salem 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 most expensive homes ($672k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
44,795Highest |
19,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
41.1±1.6 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Salem 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Stoneham and Salem 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest 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 |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Salem | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Salem High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.8Lowest |
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.