What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).

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	Douglas
People
Population	23,355Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Stoneham 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%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Douglas 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%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas 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±$10kLowest 10% above MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
	Stoneham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stoneham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Douglas
High school in town	Stoneham High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	7.2Lowest
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.