Compare towns
Stoneham vs Beals vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stow has the most expensive homes ($326k 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.
| Measure | Stoneham | Beals | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
498 |
535Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -12.8% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME |
57±10.5 27% above ME |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Beals and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
37.9%±17.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
33.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,750±$27k 15% below ME |
$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME |
$42,204±$22kLowest 44% below ME |
| Beals and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,200±$32kLowest 24% below ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$326,400±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
| Stow and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$383Highest about the ME average |
$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME |
— |
| Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,426Lowest 53% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$3,304Highest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8% ME: 74.3% |
83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
51 minHighest 109% above ME |
| Work from home | 40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±12 ME: 15.9% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Beals Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.