What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

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	Middlesex	Stoneham
People
Population	1,943Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlesex and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S.	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S.	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S.	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex 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	—	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Stoneham
High school in town	None in town	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.