Compare towns

Wakefield vs Ogunquit 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

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k median).

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.

MeasureWakefieldOgunquitWakefieldStoneham
People
Population
27,793Highest
1,379Lowest
27,793Highest
23,355
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Lowest
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
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%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
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.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$113,964±$10kLowest
41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
$671,900±$26kLowest
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,958±$102Lowest
39% above U.S.
—
$1,958±$102Lowest
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.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
$6,523
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%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%
94.3%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.
1978Highest
2 yrs 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
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
24.6%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #179 of 282 in MA — #179 of 282 in MA #117 of 282 in MA
School district Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield — — Stoneham
High school in town Northeast Metro Regional Vocational — — Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
— —
10.7
On TownTapestry
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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.