Compare towns
Stoneham vs Wakefield vs Westhampton
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 highest household income ($134k).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k 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 | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
27,793Highest |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton 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% |
47%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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 |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
| Wakefield and Stoneham 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 |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,304±$229Lowest 26% below 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 |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$6,476Lowest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wakefield and Stoneham 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
10.7Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.