Compare towns
Stoneham vs Hampton Falls vs Wakefield vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Hampton Falls | Wakefield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
2,328Lowest |
27,793Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Hampton Falls School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | None in town | 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 | 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.