Compare towns
Malden vs Stoneham vs Everett vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most homeowners (71%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Waltham has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Malden | Stoneham | Everett | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 65,906Highest |
23,355Lowest |
50,045 |
64,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±1 11% below MA |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,606±$6k 3% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$120,216±$7kHighest 16% above MA |
| Waltham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,204±$62 25% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA |
| Waltham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,995 17% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3% MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Waltham 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Malden | Stoneham | Everett | Waltham |
| High school in town | Malden High | Stoneham High | Everett High | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Highest |
10.7 |
12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.