Compare towns
Stoneham vs Thompson vs Plainfield vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Grafton has the highest household income ($131k).
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 | Thompson | Plainfield | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
9,337Lowest |
15,141 |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.1±1.6 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Stoneham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| 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 102% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$7,117Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.