What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has the most affordable homes ($359k median).

Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Templeton	Stoneham
People
Population	8,252Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA
	Stoneham and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Templeton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,154±$15kLowest about the MA average	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA
	Stoneham and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,554Lowest 24% below MA	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Templeton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Templeton 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	#244 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Narragansett	Stoneham
High school in town	Narragansett Regional High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.