Compare towns

Florida vs Stoneham vs Peru

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).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).

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.

MeasureFloridaStonehamPeru
People
Population
668
23,355Highest
630Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
56.1±4.4Highest
40% above MA
42.2±2.2Lowest
6% above MA
52.6±4.8
32% above MA
Florida and Peru 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%
20.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.3%±3.5
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%±4.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
29.7%±6.9
MA: 17.9%
Florida and Peru 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%
55.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
28%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±2Lowest
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
$113,964±$10kHighest
10% above MA
$90,750±$18k
13% below MA
Stoneham and Peru 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
$671,900±$26kHighest
20% above MA
$267,400±$15k
52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$256Lowest
51% below MA
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,894Lowest
68% below MA
$6,523Highest
9% above MA
$3,805
36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±100
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%
5.4%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%
MA: 62.5%
71%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
14 yrs newer than MA
1964Lowest
same as MA
1983Highest
19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
10% below MA
28 min
4% below MA
31 minHighest
7% above MA
Work from home
6.4%±2.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.3%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
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

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.