What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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	Stoneham	Plainfield
People
Population	23,355Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA
	Plainfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Plainfield 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stoneham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Plainfield and Stoneham 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	—
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.