What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k median).

Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoneham	Wellesley
People
Population	23,355Lowest	30,347Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wellesley 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%	15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	89%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA	$250,001Highest 140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA	$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA	$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wellesley and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#6 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Wellesley
High school in town	Stoneham High	Wellesley Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.