What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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.

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

Measure	Boylston	Stoneham
People
Population	4,948Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA
	Boylston and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,032±$350Lowest 15% above MA	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA
	Stoneham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,266Highest 21% above MA	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.7Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Boylston and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Boylston 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	#72 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Stoneham
High school in town	Tahanto Regional High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.