Compare towns
Wakefield vs Suffield vs Wakefield vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% 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 | Suffield | Wakefield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
15,702Lowest |
27,793Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% 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. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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.