What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).

Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k 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	Beacon Falls
People
Population	23,355Highest	6,147Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.	48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stoneham and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Beacon Falls 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Beacon Falls 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 41% above U.S.	$101,516±$42kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.	$350,300±$34kLowest 5% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.	$1,921±$286Lowest 36% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S.	$6,534Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.7%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Beacon Falls 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 U.S.: 12.5%	2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.3%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoneham and Beacon Falls 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	#77 of 149 in CT
School district	Stoneham	Regional School District 16
High school in town	Stoneham High	Woodland Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.