What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westfield has the most kids (27.1% 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	Westfield
People
Population	271Lowest	536Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.6±7.1Highest 56% above U.S.	44±19.9Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.9%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	41%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	29.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoneham and Westfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.8%±13.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham and Westfield 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 21% below U.S.	$72,500±$30kHighest 10% below U.S.
	Westfield 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 32% below U.S.	$301,400±$47kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Westfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$383Highest 20% below U.S.	$863±$187Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Stoneham and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,426Lowest 54% below U.S.	$4,388Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±71.3 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	40.7%±15.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.