What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Hadley
People
Population	23,355Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA
	Hadley 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%	16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Hadley 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%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley 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%	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hadley 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	$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA
	Hadley and Stoneham 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	$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stoneham and Hadley 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%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Hadley
High school in town	Stoneham High	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	7.3Lowest
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.