Compare towns
Stoneham vs Lowell vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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.
| Measure | Stoneham | Lowell | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
118,368Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #117 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 | 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.