What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k 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	Norton	Stoneham
People
Population	19,240Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA
	Stoneham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA
	Norton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA
	Stoneham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,929Lowest about the MA average	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Stoneham
High school in town	Norton High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.