Compare towns
Stoneham vs Plainville vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
9,943Lowest |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield 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±$10k 10% above MA |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Stoneham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Mansfield 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Plainville | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | None in town | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.