Compare towns
Stoneham vs Freedom 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%).
Freedom has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Freedom | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
670Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.1% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below 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% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom 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% |
22.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham and Stow 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 |
$64,861±$12kHighest 13% below ME |
$42,204±$22kLowest 44% below ME |
| Freedom 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±$32k 24% below ME |
$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$326,400±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$383 about the ME average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,426Lowest 53% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
$3,304Highest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100 ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Stoneham and Freedom 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% |
11.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
51 minHighest 109% above ME |
| Work from home | 40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Lowest 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. | |||
| 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.