What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).

Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).

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	Hampton Falls
People
Population	23,355Highest	2,328Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.
	Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 22%	19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stoneham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 35.7%	54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham and Hampton Falls 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 41% above U.S.	$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S.	$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S.
	Hampton Falls and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.	$1,852±$475Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoneham and Hampton Falls 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	—
School district	Stoneham	Hampton Falls School District
High school in town	Stoneham High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
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.