What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

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	Northfield
People
Population	23,355Highest	2,872Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northfield and Stoneham 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%	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average
	Stoneham and Northfield 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	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northfield 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%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	Stoneham High	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	10.7
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.