Compare towns
Peru vs Stoneham vs Florida
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%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Stoneham | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
23,355Highest |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
| Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Peru 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% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Florida 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Florida 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 |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below 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±$15k 52% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Stoneham and Florida 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Stoneham | Florida |
| 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 |
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.