What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

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	Westbrook
People
Population	23,355Highest	20,775Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S.	37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stoneham and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoneham and Westbrook 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 U.S.: 35.7%	41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.	$85,038±$7kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.	$383,300±$19kLowest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.	$1,392±$74Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.	$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westbrook 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 U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#115 of 133 in ME
School district	Stoneham	Westbrook Public Schools
High school in town	Stoneham High	Westbrook High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.