What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).

York has the oldest population (median age 49.5).

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.

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

Measure	Stoneham	York
People
Population	23,355Highest	13,986Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.	49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S.
	York and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	York and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	53.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S.	$121,250±$25kHighest 50% above U.S.
	York and Stoneham 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.	$636,400±$30kLowest 91% above U.S.
	Stoneham and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.	$1,490±$336Lowest 5% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.	$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	York 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%	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	York and Stoneham 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	#13 of 133 in ME
School district	Stoneham	York Public Schools
High school in town	Stoneham High	York High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	9.6Lowest
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.