What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).

Dresden has the most kids (17% under 18).

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	Dresden
People
Population	271Lowest	1,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.2% ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME	55.1±7.9Lowest 23% above ME
	Stoneham and Dresden 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%	17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dresden and Stoneham 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%	24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Stoneham and Dresden 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%	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Stoneham and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,750±$27kLowest 15% below ME	$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average
	Dresden 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	$240,100±$29kHighest 19% below ME
	Dresden and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$383Lowest about the ME average	$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME
	Dresden and Stoneham 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	$2,500Highest 18% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Stoneham and Dresden 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%	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 18% above ME	33 minHighest 35% above ME
Work from home	40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	—	RSU 02
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.