What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has the oldest population (median age 49.5).

Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).

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	York	Stoneham
People
Population	13,986Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
	York and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	York and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,250±$25kHighest 50% above U.S.	$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S.
	York and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$636,400±$30kLowest 91% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
	Stoneham and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,490±$336Lowest 5% above U.S.	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S.	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	York and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	York 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	#13 of 133 in ME	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	York Public Schools	Stoneham
High school in town	York High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	10.7Highest
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.