What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).

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	Lowell
People
Population	23,355Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lowell 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 MA: 17.9%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell 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%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Lowell
High school in town	Stoneham High	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.8Highest
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.