What stands out worked out from the figures below

Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% under 18).

Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).

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	Palmyra	Stoneham
People
Population	2,209Highest	271Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME	60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME
Kids under 18	29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%	5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	16.7%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Stoneham and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME	$63,750±$27kHighest 15% below ME
	Stoneham and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME	$226,200±$32kHighest 24% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME	$1,125±$383Highest about the ME average
	Stoneham and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,614Highest 47% below ME	$1,426Lowest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±14.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Stoneham and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 14% below ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.