What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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	Barre
People
Population	23,355Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA
	Barre and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Barre 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%	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Barre 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%	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Barre 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±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA
	Stoneham and Barre 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	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stoneham and Barre 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%	8.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Quabbin
High school in town	Stoneham High	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.