Compare towns
Stoneham vs Stow vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Stow | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
7,165Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Stow and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Stow and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Nashoba | — |
| 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.