Compare towns
Stoneham vs Everett vs Fall River 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 most homeowners (71%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Everett | Fall River | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
| Wakefield and Stoneham 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 10% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below 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 |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Everett and Stoneham 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
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.