What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($226k median).

Patten has the most kids (11.3% 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	Patten
People
Population	271Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-13.4% ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME	57.8±3.5Lowest 29% above ME
	Stoneham and Patten 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%	11.3%±2.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Patten 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%	38.5%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Stoneham and Patten 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%	25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Stoneham and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,750±$27kHighest 15% below ME	$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME
	Stoneham and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$226,200±$32kHighest 24% below ME	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$383Highest about the ME average	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,426Highest 53% below ME	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	56%±64.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Stoneham and Patten 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%	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	28 minLowest 13% above ME
Work from home	40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9%	28.7%±19.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Stoneham and Patten 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

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.