Compare towns
Wakefield vs Boylston vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Boylston | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
4,948Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston 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 MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$14k 29% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Boylston and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boylston 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 MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Berlin-Boylston | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Tahanto Regional High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.