Compare towns
Stoneham vs Suffield vs Wolcott 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
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
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 | Suffield | Wolcott | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
15,702Lowest |
16,279 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1 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+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wolcott and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Suffield 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,464±$913 4% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$5,799Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Wolcott School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Wolcott High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.