Compare towns
Rupert vs Stoneham vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Rupert | Stoneham | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
23,355Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Stoneham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoneham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 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 | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Rupert 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 | — | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | — | Stoneham High | — |
| 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.