Compare towns
Stoneham vs Stoneham vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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.
| Measure | Stoneham | Stoneham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
23,355Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Ware 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Stoneham | Ware |
| High school in town | — | Stoneham High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.