Compare towns
Stoneham vs Salem vs Foxborough
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%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Salem | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
44,795Highest |
18,615Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.9Highest 6% above MA |
| Foxborough 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Salem 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$115,833±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
| Foxborough 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 |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$1,843±$70 5% above MA |
| Stoneham and Foxborough 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,275Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Foxborough 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Salem | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Salem High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.8Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.