Compare towns
Stoneham vs Wakefield vs Wellesley
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 most affordable homes ($672k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
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 | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
27,793 |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below 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% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley 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% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wellesley and Wakefield 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Wellesley |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.