Compare towns
Reading vs Stoneham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Reading | Stoneham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
23,355Lowest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Reading and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Stoneham 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.