Compare towns
Stoneham vs Plainfield vs Stoneham vs Mansfield
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).
Mansfield has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
616Lowest |
23,355 |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±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% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
| Mansfield and Stoneham 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest 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 | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | — | — | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | — | — | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| 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.