Compare towns
Burlington vs Rowley vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Rowley | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
1,708Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
46.3±16.7Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Rowley and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Burlington 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 MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Stoneham 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 41% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$614,800±$39kLowest 9% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,663±$674Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$6,865Highest 15% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Burlington and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 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.