Compare towns
Stoneham vs Sutton vs Mansfield vs Ashland
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 expensive homes ($672k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Sutton | Mansfield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
9,452Lowest |
23,931Highest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Sutton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield 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±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Sutton and Ashland 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,444Highest 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Sutton | Mansfield | Ashland |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Sutton High School | Mansfield High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.6 |
11.1 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.