Compare towns
Stoneham vs Suffield vs Needham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Suffield | Needham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
15,702Lowest |
32,459Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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 41% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Suffield 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Suffield School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Suffield High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.9 |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.