What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Stoneham has the oldest population (median age 42.2).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham	Stoneham
People
Population	15,080Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.	42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.	$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S.
	Durham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoneham and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Stoneham
High school in town	Oyster River High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	51 photos →	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.