Compare towns
Stoneham vs Hampton vs Wakefield vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Stoneham | Hampton | Wakefield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
16,426Lowest |
27,793Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.7Highest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.