Compare towns
Maynard vs Stoneham vs Wakefield vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Maynard | Stoneham | Wakefield | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
23,355 |
27,793Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 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+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 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 | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Ipswich |
| High school in town | — | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
10.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.