What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southwick has the most affordable homes ($398k median).

Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Southwick	Stoneham
People
Population	9,217Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±1.8Highest 17% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	18.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Southwick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,462±$16kHighest 16% above MA	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA
	Southwick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$397,500±$27kLowest 29% below MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,332±$72Lowest 24% below MA	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,331Lowest 11% below MA	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Southwick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Southwick 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	#211 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District	Stoneham
High school in town	Southwick Regional School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.