Compare towns
Stoneham vs Shirley 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).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Stoneham | Shirley | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
6,976Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
| Grafton and Shirley 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Ayer Shirley School District | 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.