Compare towns
Acton vs Mansfield vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Acton | Mansfield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
23,931 |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Acton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Mansfield | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Mansfield High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.