Compare towns
Stoneham vs Upton vs Walpole 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Walpole | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
8,189Lowest |
26,388 |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Upton 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% |
16.9%±1.7 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
| Walpole and Upton 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±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Walpole and Woburn 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 |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Walpole 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 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 15% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Stoneham 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Woburn |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Blackstone Valley | Walpole High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
11.3Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.