Compare towns
Leverett vs Stoneham vs Wakefield vs Conway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Conway has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Leverett | Stoneham | Wakefield | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,608Lowest |
23,355 |
27,793Highest |
1,755 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
55.6±3 39% above MA |
| Leverett and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3 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+ | 34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
60.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $104,688±$18k about the MA average |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$97,250±$11kLowest 6% 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 | $435,500±$35k 23% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,800±$990 about the MA average |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,779 13% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$5,797Lowest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Leverett 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Leverett | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Conway |
| 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 | None yet | 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.