Compare towns
Stoneham vs Windham vs Mansfield vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Windham | Mansfield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
19,188Lowest |
23,931 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| 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 102% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #60 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | RSU 14 | Mansfield | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Windham High School | Mansfield High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.