What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).

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	Burlington
People
Population	23,355Lowest	26,274Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA
	Burlington 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%	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Burlington 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	58.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA	$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA	$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$6,165Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Burlington 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%	5.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Burlington 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	#83 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Burlington
High school in town	Stoneham High	Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.3Highest
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.