Compare towns
Burlington vs Wakefield vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k median).
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 | Burlington | Wakefield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274 |
27,793Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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.