Compare towns
Stoneham vs Plainville vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
9,943Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% 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%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,977±$197Lowest 12% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Plainville | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | None in town | — |
| 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.