What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hope has the most kids (23.3% 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	Hope
People
Population	271Lowest	1,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+10.5% ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME	44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average
Kids under 18	5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4%	21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	47.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8%	2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Stoneham and Hope 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	$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME
	Hope 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	$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$383Lowest about the ME average	$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME
	Hope 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	$3,842Highest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Stoneham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	20 minLowest 19% below ME
Work from home	40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9%	18.3%±10.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Stoneham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Hope Public Schools
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.