What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k median).

Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

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	Stoughton	Stoneham
People
Population	29,225Highest	23,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
	Stoughton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoughton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA
	Stoneham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA
	Stoughton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,215Lowest 4% above MA	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 15% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#196 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoughton	Stoneham
High school in town	Stoughton High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.