What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marshfield has the most homeowners (80.8%).

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	Marshfield
People
Population	23,355Lowest	25,879Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA
	Marshfield 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%	19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Marshfield 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%	20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Marshfield 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	$125,986±$8kHighest 21% above MA
	Marshfield 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	$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA
	Marshfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average
	Stoneham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA	$6,656Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marshfield and Stoneham 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	#54 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Marshfield
High school in town	Stoneham High	Marshfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.0Highest
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.