Compare towns
Stoneham vs Plainfield vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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.
| Measure | Stoneham | Plainfield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
616Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Plainfield 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%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | — | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.