Compare towns
Pascoag vs Stoneham vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pascoag has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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.
| Measure | Pascoag | Stoneham | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,410Lowest |
23,355Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±3.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pascoag and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,369±$34kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Pascoag and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,000±$47kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,319±$444Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,395Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±27.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Foster 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 | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Stoneham | Foster |
| High school in town | — | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.