Compare towns
Stoneham vs Williamsburg 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 most kids (20.8% under 18).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Williamsburg | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
2,694Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 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% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above 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 |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above 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 |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | — | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Williamsburg | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.