What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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	Hampden
People
Population	23,355Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S.	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden 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 U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoneham and Hampden 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 U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden 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 41% above U.S.	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoneham and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Stoneham	RSU 22
High school in town	Stoneham High	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.