Compare towns
Heath 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
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Heath | Rowe | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
453Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Stoneham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoneham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Stoneham 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 | — | Rowe | 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.