Compare towns
Stoneham vs Unity 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%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Stow has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
1,858Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stow and Unity 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.8%±13.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Unity and Stoneham 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 |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$42,204±$22kLowest 44% below ME |
| Stoneham and Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$326,400±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$383Highest about the ME average |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
— |
| Stoneham and Unity 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,304Highest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Stoneham and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
51 minHighest 109% above ME |
| Work from home | 40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Lowest 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. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.