What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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	Natick
People
Population	23,355Lowest	36,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA
	Natick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Natick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Natick 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	$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA
	Natick 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	$8,914Highest 49% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stoneham and Natick 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%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest 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	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Natick 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	#48 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Natick
High school in town	Stoneham High	Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.6Highest
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.