What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sumner has the most kids (17.2% 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	Sumner
People
Population	271Lowest	845Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.9% ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME	56.1±8.4Lowest 25% above ME
	Stoneham and Sumner 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%	17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Sumner 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%	29.7%±5.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Stoneham and Sumner 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%	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Stoneham and Sumner 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	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME
	Stoneham and Sumner 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	$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME
	Stoneham and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$383 about the ME average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,426Lowest 53% below ME	$2,167Highest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Stoneham 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%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 18% above ME	42 minHighest 72% above ME
Work from home	40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Stoneham and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 10
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.