What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k median).

Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Fairhaven	Stoneham
People
Population	15,903Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA
	Stoneham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1964Highest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#126 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Stoneham
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	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.