Compare towns
Stoneham vs Worcester vs Dedham 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 people working from home (24.6%).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Dedham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
207,055Highest |
25,237 |
19,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.1±1.6 about the MA average |
| Dedham 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
| Grafton and Dedham 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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 |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dedham | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | South High Community | Dedham High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
14.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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.