Compare towns
Stoneham vs Patten 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%).
Patten has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
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 | Patten | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
1,154Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.4% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
57.8±3.5 29% above ME |
57±10.5Lowest 27% 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%±2.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stow and Patten 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%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
37.9%±17.8Lowest 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% |
33.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest 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±$27kHighest 15% below ME |
$51,484±$6k 31% below ME |
$42,204±$22kLowest 44% 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±$32k 24% below ME |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
$326,400±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$383Highest about the ME average |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,426 53% below ME |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
$3,304Highest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1 ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
51 minHighest 109% above ME |
| Work from home | 40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±12Lowest 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 | 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.