Compare towns

Florida vs Rowe vs Stoneham

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 oldest population (median age 56.1).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

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.

MeasureFloridaRoweStoneham
People
Population
668
453Lowest
23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
56.1±4.4Highest
40% above MA
48.9±6.4
22% above MA
42.2±2.2Lowest
6% above MA
Florida and Rowe 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%
23%±5Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
Rowe and Stoneham 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%
30.2%±8.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Rowe 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%
26.2%
MA: 47.3%
55.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
3.3%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4Highest
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±$17k
16% below MA
$69,583±$13kLowest
33% below MA
$113,964±$10kHighest
10% above MA
Stoneham and Florida 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
$275,000±$41k
51% below MA
$671,900±$26kHighest
20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$256Lowest
51% below MA
$1,313±$576
25% below MA
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,894
68% below MA
$1,458Lowest
76% below MA
$6,523Highest
9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±100
MA: 51.8%
11.8%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2Highest
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%
MA: 10%
15.8%Highest
MA: 10%
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
90.8%
MA: 62.5%
71%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
1959Lowest
5 yrs older than MA
1964
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
10% below MA
36 minHighest
22% above MA
28 min
4% below MA
Work from home
6.4%±2.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
7.2%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #117 of 282 in MA
School district Florida Rowe Stoneham
High school in town None 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

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.