Compare towns
Wakefield vs Gorham vs Stoneham vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Saugus has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Wakefield | Gorham | Stoneham | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
18,300Lowest |
23,355 |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #117 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
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.