Compare towns
Stoneham vs Dover vs Wakefield
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).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Dover | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
2,308Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
— | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% 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 | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.