Compare towns
Stoneham vs Wakefield vs Ware vs Mansfield
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).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Wakefield | Ware | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
27,793Highest |
10,048Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Ware and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham 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% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield 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±$10k 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Wakefield and Mansfield 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 |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| 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 |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | — | Ware | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.