Compare towns
Lee vs Stoneham vs Wakefield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Lee | Stoneham | Wakefield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
23,355 |
27,793Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 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+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Wakefield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
— |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.7Highest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.