Compare towns
Stoneham vs Dighton vs Stoneham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Stoneham | Dighton | Stoneham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
8,193Lowest |
23,355 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.7±2.9Highest 7% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Dighton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dighton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Dighton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$501,900±$47kLowest 11% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$6,452Lowest 8% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wakefield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | — | Bristol County Agricultural High | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.