What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somers has the most affordable homes ($396k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Somers	Stoneham
People
Population	10,308Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±2.6Highest 11% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Somers and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Somers and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoneham and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,705±$15kHighest 54% above U.S.	$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S.
	Somers and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,800±$21kLowest 19% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S.	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S.	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somers and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 149 in CT	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Somers School District	Stoneham
High school in town	Somers High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.