Compare towns

Stoneham vs Exeter vs Mansfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Mansfield has the highest household income ($125k).

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.

MeasureStonehamExeterMansfield
People
Population
23,355
16,151Lowest
23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±2.2
8% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
41.4±1.3Lowest
6% above U.S.
Exeter and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Mansfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,964±$10k
41% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kLowest
37% above U.S.
$125,273±$15kHighest
55% above U.S.
Mansfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
$603,500±$28k
81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,803±$147Lowest
28% above U.S.
Stoneham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,523Lowest
109% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$7,226
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoneham and Mansfield 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 #22 of 120 in NH #60 of 282 in MA
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Mansfield
High school in town — Exeter High School Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Highest
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → 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.