What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

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	Lenox
People
Population	23,355Highest	5,079Lowest
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	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Lenox 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	$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average
	Stoneham and Lenox 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	$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lenox 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%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	23 minLowest 22% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Lenox
High school in town	Stoneham High	Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	7.6Lowest
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.