What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).

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	Ipswich
People
Population	23,355Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
	Ipswich 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%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Ipswich 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%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich 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%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Ipswich 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	$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA
	Ipswich 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±$26kLowest 20% above MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich 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%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964 same as MA	1964 same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Ipswich 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	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Ipswich
High school in town	Stoneham High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	9.0Lowest
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.