What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

Peabody has the most affordable homes ($596k 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	Peabody
People
Population	23,355Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA
	Peabody 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%	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Peabody 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%	24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Peabody 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	$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA
	Stoneham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Peabody
High school in town	Stoneham High	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.