Compare towns
Monroe vs Stoneham vs New Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
New Ashford has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Monroe | Stoneham | New Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 122Lowest |
23,355Highest |
257 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
57.1±3.6 43% above MA |
| Monroe and New Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±28 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.6%±6.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±27.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
34.2%±8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Ashford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$102,188±$30kLowest about the MA average |
| Stoneham and New Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$390,700±$50k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$960±$113Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$3,196 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoneham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 56 minHighest 93% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.1%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and New Ashford 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 | — | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | — | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.