What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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	Nelson	Stoneham
People
Population	648Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Nelson and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson 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	Nelson School District	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.