Compare towns
Stoneham vs Ware vs Wakefield vs Foxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Ware | Wakefield | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
10,048Lowest |
27,793Highest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Stoneham 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Ware 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 10% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$115,833±$9k 11% above MA |
| Wakefield and Foxborough 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,843±$70 5% above MA |
| 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 9% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | — | Foxborough |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.