Compare towns
Stoneham vs Sutton vs Canton 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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Grafton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Sutton | Canton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
9,452Lowest |
24,748Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Canton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Grafton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Sutton and Canton 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Canton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Canton 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Stoneham 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Sutton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Sutton High School | Canton High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.6 |
13.1Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.