Compare towns
Stoneham vs Thompson 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
9,337Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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 41% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| 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 102% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Thompson School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.