Compare towns
Stoneham vs Ware vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
10,048Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Ware and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.