What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).

Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Sunderland
People
Population	23,355Highest	3,641Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$458,100±$52kLowest 19% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,672±$151Lowest 5% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$5,611Lowest 6% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	14.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest MA: 62.5%	42%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	17 minLowest 41% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Sunderland 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	#220 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Sunderland
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

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.