What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($451k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lincoln	Stoneham
People
Population	22,864Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lincoln and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lincoln and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lincoln and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,821±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,600±$17kLowest 35% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,468±$152Lowest 4% above U.S.	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S.	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#21 of 38 in RI	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	Stoneham
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	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.