What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

Avon has the most affordable homes ($510k 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	Avon
People
Population	23,355Highest	4,774Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA
	Stoneham and Avon 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%	21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Avon 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%	17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Avon 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%	30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Avon 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	$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA
	Avon 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	$509,600±$62kLowest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,558±$265Lowest 12% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA	$6,627Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Avon 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%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#212 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Avon
High school in town	Stoneham High	Avon Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	9.4Lowest
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.