Compare towns
Cavendish vs Stoneham vs Wakefield vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Cavendish | Stoneham | Wakefield | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
23,355 |
27,793Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wakefield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | 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.