Compare towns
Mansfield vs Salem 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 highest household income ($125k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Mansfield | Salem | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931 |
44,795Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
| Stoneham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Mansfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Salem | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Salem High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.