Compare towns
Reading vs Stoneham vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Reading | Stoneham | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
23,355Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peacham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,605Lowest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Peacham 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 | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Stoneham | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None 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.