What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).

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	Lisbon	Stoneham
People
Population	9,750Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoneham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S.	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S.	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S.	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lisbon and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoneham and Lisbon 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	#60 of 133 in ME	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	Stoneham
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	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.