What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beals has the most kids (16.1% under 18).

Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Beals	Stoneham
People
Population	498Highest	271Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME	60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME
	Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1%	5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Beals and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±5.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME	$63,750±$27kLowest 15% below ME
	Beals and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME	$226,200±$32kLowest 24% below ME
	Beals and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME	$1,125±$383Highest about the ME average
	Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,580Highest 15% below ME	$1,426Lowest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 17% below ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	17.6%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Beals Public Schools	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.