Compare towns

Stoneham vs Webster vs Whitman

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 most people working from home (24.6%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureStonehamWebsterWhitman
People
Population
23,355Highest
17,748
15,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±2.2Highest
6% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
40.4±1.8
about the MA average
Stoneham and Whitman 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%
19.6%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Whitman 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%
19.6%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Stoneham and Webster 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%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
31.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,964±$10kHighest
10% above MA
$72,895±$6kLowest
30% below MA
$108,933±$14k
5% above MA
Stoneham and Whitman 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
$361,500±$12kLowest
36% below MA
$472,700±$12k
16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
$1,228±$81Lowest
30% below MA
$1,771±$151
about the MA average
Stoneham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,523Highest
9% above MA
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
$5,824
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±8.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
61.9%±13.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
Whitman and Webster 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%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
7.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71%
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
71.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Highest
same as MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% below MA
31 min
5% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.8%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #117 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA #191 of 282 in MA
School district Stoneham Webster Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Stoneham High Bartlett High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
11.6Highest
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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.