What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).

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.

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

Measure	Burlington	Stoneham
People
Population	26,274Highest	23,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
	Burlington and Stoneham 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%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	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 MA: 47.3%	55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	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 41% above MA	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,165Lowest about the MA average	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	22.5%±3.2Lowest 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	#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

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.