Compare towns
Stoneham vs Townsend vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.
| Measure | Stoneham | Townsend | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
9,100Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Townsend and Stoneham 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.