What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k 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	Spencer	Stoneham
People
Population	12,008Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
	Spencer and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Spencer and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Spencer and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Spencer and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Stoneham
High school in town	David Prouty High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	10.7Highest
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.