Compare towns

Stoneham vs Rowley vs Woburn

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%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).

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.

MeasureStonehamRowleyWoburn
People
Population
23,355
6,251Lowest
41,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±2.2
6% above MA
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
39.3±1.6Lowest
about the MA average
Rowley 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%
19.3%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
17.9%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Stoneham and Rowley 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%
21.6%±4.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.7%±1.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Rowley 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%
MA: 47.3%
56.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
46.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Woburn and Rowley 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
$132,734±$32kHighest
28% above MA
$111,185±$9kLowest
7% above MA
Rowley 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±$26k
20% above MA
$667,300±$52kLowest
19% above MA
$673,500±$17kHighest
20% above MA
Woburn and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,035±$142
15% above MA
$1,603±$520Lowest
9% below MA
$2,221±$77Highest
26% above MA
Woburn and Stoneham 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
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$5,354Lowest
11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±8.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±27.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
55.5%±7.5
MA: 51.8%
Rowley and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71%
MA: 62.5%
81.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
same as MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% below MA
28 minHighest
3% below MA
25 minLowest
13% below MA
Work from home
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16%±2.6
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #117 of 282 in MA #214 of 282 in MA #169 of 282 in MA
School district Stoneham Triton Woburn
High school in town Stoneham High None in town Woburn High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
11.2Highest
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.