What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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	Brewer
People
Population	23,355Highest	9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer 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 U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer 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%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer 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.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer 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 U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Stoneham	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Stoneham High	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.0Highest
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.