Compare towns
Stoneham vs Salem vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% 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.
| Measure | Stoneham | Salem | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
44,795Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest 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% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Salem | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.