Compare towns
Stoneham vs Woonsocket vs Mansfield vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Woonsocket | Mansfield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
43,521Highest |
23,931 |
18,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Mansfield 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mansfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
$7,444Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Ashland 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #60 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Mansfield | Ashland |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Woonsocket High School | Mansfield High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
15.2Highest |
11.1 |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.