What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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	Plainville
People
Population	23,355Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville 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 U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoneham and Plainville 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 U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville 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 41% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Stoneham	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Stoneham High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.