Compare towns
Stoneham vs Windsor Locks 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
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | Mansfield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
12,579Lowest |
23,931 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +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. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 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% |
28.6%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% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 41% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%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. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #60 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Windsor Locks School District | Mansfield | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Windsor Locks High School | Mansfield High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.