What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k 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	Auburn
People
Population	23,355Highest	16,970Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Auburn and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Auburn and Stoneham 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%	20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Auburn 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%	45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Auburn 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	$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA
	Auburn 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	$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$5,289Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Auburn 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 MA: 10%	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	26 minLowest 12% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#106 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Auburn
High school in town	Stoneham High	Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.1Highest
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.