What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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	Gardner
People
Population	23,355Highest	21,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Gardner 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%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Gardner 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%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Gardner 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	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner 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%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Gardner
High school in town	Stoneham High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	13.5Highest
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.