Compare towns
Burlington vs Putnam vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% 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 | Burlington | Putnam | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
9,292Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Burlington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burlington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Burlington 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 | #83 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Putnam School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Putnam High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.