What stands out worked out from the figures below

Malden has the most renters (58.7% rent).

Stoneham has the most homeowners (71%).

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	Malden	Stoneham
People
Population	65,906Highest	23,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.8±1Lowest 11% below MA	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,606±$6kLowest 3% below MA	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA
	Stoneham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$633,500±$26kLowest 13% above MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
	Stoneham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA
	Malden and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,995Lowest 17% below MA	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±4.6Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Malden and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1964Highest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Malden 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	#184 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Malden	Stoneham
High school in town	Malden High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	16.1Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.