Compare towns
Florida vs Peru vs Stoneham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Florida | Peru | Stoneham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 668 |
630 |
23,355Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Stoneham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
— | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoneham and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Washington 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 | — | — | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Florida | — | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.