What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most homeowners (71%).

Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k 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	Brookline
People
Population	23,355Lowest	63,266Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Brookline 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%	15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA	$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brookline 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%	8.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest MA: 62.5%	46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Brookline and Stoneham 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	#22 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Brookline
High school in town	Stoneham High	Brookline High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.9Highest
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.