Compare towns

Burlington vs Wolcott vs Stoneham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

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.

MeasureBurlingtonWolcottStoneham
People
Population
26,274Highest
16,279Lowest
23,355
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.2Highest
18% above U.S.
44.4±2.5
14% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Lowest
8% above U.S.
Burlington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Wolcott and Stoneham 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
81% above U.S.
$110,850±$10kLowest
37% above U.S.
$113,964±$10k
41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$740,600±$35kHighest
123% above U.S.
$326,200±$17kLowest
about the U.S. average
$671,900±$26k
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,718±$368Highest
92% above U.S.
$1,464±$913Lowest
4% above U.S.
$2,035±$142
44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,165
98% above U.S.
$5,799Lowest
86% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.8%±24.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Burlington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoneham and Burlington 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 #83 of 282 in MA #76 of 149 in CT #117 of 282 in MA
School district Burlington Wolcott School District Stoneham
High school in town Burlington High Wolcott High School Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Highest
10.1Lowest
10.7
On TownTapestry
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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.