Compare towns
Mansfield vs Reading vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering MansfieldNorton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Mansfield | Reading | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931 |
25,612Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Reading and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226 21% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoneham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.