Compare towns

Stoneham vs Walpole vs Woburn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the oldest population (median age 42.2).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).

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.

MeasureStonehamWalpoleWoburn
People
Population
23,355Lowest
26,388
41,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±2.2Highest
6% above MA
40.9±1.2
about the MA average
39.3±1.6Lowest
about the MA average
Stoneham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
25.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.9%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Walpole and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.9%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
15.7%±1.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Stoneham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.9%
MA: 47.3%
67.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
46.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,964±$10k
10% above MA
$171,500±$16kHighest
65% above MA
$111,185±$9kLowest
7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$671,900±$26kLowest
20% above MA
$687,100±$20kHighest
22% above MA
$673,500±$17k
20% above MA
Walpole and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,035±$142Lowest
15% above MA
$2,205±$222
25% above MA
$2,221±$77Highest
26% above MA
Woburn and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,523
9% above MA
$8,523Highest
42% above MA
$5,354Lowest
11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±8.2
MA: 51.8%
37.8%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.5%±7.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
Woburn and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%
MA: 10%
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71%
MA: 62.5%
83.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
same as MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% below MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
25 minLowest
13% below MA
Work from home
24.6%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
28.2%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
16%±2.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Walpole 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 #107 of 282 in MA #169 of 282 in MA
School district — Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole Woburn
High school in town — Walpole High Woburn High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3Highest
11.2Lowest
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.