Compare towns
Sunderland vs Stoneham vs Leverett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% 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 | Sunderland | Stoneham | Leverett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,641 |
23,355Highest |
1,608Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$104,688±$18k about the MA average |
| Stoneham and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,100±$52k 19% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,672±$151 5% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,611Lowest 6% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,779Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 41% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Leverett and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #220 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Sunderland | Stoneham | Leverett |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.