Compare towns
Stoneham vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
9,960Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Wakefield 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 |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,958±$102 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 | $6,523 9% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wakefield and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
7.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.