Compare towns
Stoneham vs Upton vs Walpole 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).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Upton | Walpole | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
8,189Lowest |
26,388Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.1±1.6 about the MA average |
| Upton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Walpole 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Walpole and Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Walpole 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Walpole 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Blackstone Valley | Walpole High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
11.3 |
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.