Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Saugus vs Stoneham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Ogunquit | Saugus | Stoneham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
28,773Highest |
23,355 |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kLowest 81% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #194 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | — | — | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.