Compare towns
Stoneham vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
9,100Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest 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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 10% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Wakefield and Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.