Compare towns
Peru vs Rowe vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
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 | Peru | Rowe | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630 |
453Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Peru and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Stoneham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoneham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Rowe | 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 | 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.