What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k 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	Ashburnham
People
Population	23,355Highest	6,415Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average
	Stoneham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ashburnham 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%	18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Ashburnham 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%	44%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ashburnham 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±$10kLowest 10% above MA	$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA
	Ashburnham 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 20% above MA	$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,807±$1kLowest about the MA average
	Stoneham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$6,046Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashburnham 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%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	96%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Ashburnham 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	#178 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Ashburnham-Westminster
High school in town	Stoneham High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
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.