Compare towns
Stoneham vs Walpole vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Walpole | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
26,388Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Walpole and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Walpole 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Walpole High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.