What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoneham	Stoughton
People
Population	23,355Lowest	29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA
	Stoughton 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%	18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stoughton 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%	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton 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±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average
	Stoneham and Stoughton 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	$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA
	Stoughton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$6,215Lowest 4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	33 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#196 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Stoughton
High school in town	Stoneham High	Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.