Compare towns
Stoneham vs Ayer vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
8,645Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.