Compare towns
Stoneham vs Upton vs Pepperell vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Upton | Pepperell | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
8,189Lowest |
11,663 |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Pepperell 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Woburn and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Woburn and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex | Woburn |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.