Compare towns
Wakefield vs Plainfield vs Stoneham vs Foxborough
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Foxborough has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Stoneham | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
15,141Lowest |
23,355 |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Foxborough 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±2.4 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+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$115,833±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Foxborough 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$606,300±$28k 82% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,843±$70 30% 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 | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,275 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±13.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foxborough and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 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. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #117 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Stoneham | Foxborough |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Stoneham High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.7 |
11.3Highest |
| 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.