What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).

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	Lexington
People
Population	23,355Lowest	34,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lexington 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%	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Lexington 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	$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA	$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA	$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lexington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#2 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Lexington
High school in town	Stoneham High	Lexington High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.4Highest
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.