Compare towns
Stoneham vs Dalton 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
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Dalton | Stoneham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
6,256Lowest |
23,355 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Dalton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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% |
44.3%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% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below 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% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Central Berkshire | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Wahconah Regional High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | 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.