Compare towns
Wakefield vs Newfields 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
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
2,023Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% 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 | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wakefield and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | — | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Newfields School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.