Compare towns
Barre vs Stoneham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
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 | Barre | Stoneham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
23,355Highest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Barre and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 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.