Compare towns
Wakefield vs Dalton 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 highest household income ($134k).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Dalton | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
6,256Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dalton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| 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 29% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| 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 30% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Wakefield and Stoneham 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Central Berkshire | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Wahconah Regional High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.9Highest |
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.