What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k 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	Oxford	Stoneham
People
Population	13,385Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA
	Stoneham and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Oxford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Oxford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA
	Stoneham and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,622Lowest 23% below MA	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Oxford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	16.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#245 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Oxford	Stoneham
High school in town	Oxford High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	10.7Highest
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.