Compare towns
Stoneham vs Needham vs Wakefield vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Needham | Wakefield | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
32,459Highest |
27,793 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wakefield 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.