What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k 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	Fairhaven
People
Population	23,355Highest	15,903Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Fairhaven 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%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven 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 MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Fairhaven 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 10% above MA	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Stoneham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven 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%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Fairhaven
High school in town	Stoneham High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.4Highest
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.