What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).

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	Freeport	Stoneham
People
Population	8,802Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stoneham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Freeport and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Freeport and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoneham and Freeport 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	#4 of 133 in ME	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 05	Stoneham
High school in town	Freeport High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.