Compare towns
Stoneham vs Sutton vs Needham 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 renters (29% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
9,452Lowest |
32,459Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%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 |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Needham 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Sutton | Needham | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Sutton High School | Needham High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.6 |
11.9 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.