Compare towns
Stoneham vs Upton vs Needham 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 youngest population (median age 42.2).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Upton | Needham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
8,189Lowest |
32,459Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Upton 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 10% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Needham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Blackstone Valley | Needham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.