What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most homeowners (80.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marshfield	Stoneham
People
Population	25,879Highest	23,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
	Marshfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,986±$8kHighest 21% above MA	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA
	Marshfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA
	Marshfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA
	Stoneham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,656Highest 11% above MA	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marshfield 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	#54 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Marshfield	Stoneham
High school in town	Marshfield High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	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.