Compare towns
Stoneham vs Maynard vs Mansfield vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Maynard | Mansfield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
10,712Lowest |
23,931Highest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
| Maynard and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham 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 |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA |
| Ashland and Mansfield 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 |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland and Stoneham 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Maynard | Mansfield | Ashland |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Maynard High | Mansfield High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.