What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).

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	Framingham
People
Population	23,355Lowest	72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Framingham 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%	15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Framingham 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 10% above MA	$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA
	Stoneham and Framingham 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	$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA
	Stoneham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA	$6,884Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Framingham 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%	10.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest MA: 62.5%	54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Framingham 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	#229 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Stoneham High	Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.7Highest
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.