Compare towns
Stoneham vs Wakefield vs Wareham vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k 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 | Wareham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
27,793Highest |
23,302Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
27.1%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% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Mansfield 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% 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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% 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% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Wareham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Wareham Senior High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.7 |
8.6Lowest |
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.