Compare towns
Stow vs Stoneham vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% 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.
| Measure | Stow | Stoneham | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535Highest |
271Lowest |
430 |
| Median age | 57±10.5 47% above U.S. |
60.6±7.1Highest 56% above U.S. |
48.3±8.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
41%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.8%±13.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$63,750±$27k 21% below U.S. |
$66,042±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Chatham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$42k about the U.S. average |
$226,200±$32kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$383 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304 6% above U.S. |
$1,426Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$3,690Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoneham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.7%±15.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.