Compare towns
Wakefield vs Willimantic vs Saugus 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 highest household income ($134k).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Saugus has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Willimantic | Saugus | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
18,096Lowest |
28,773Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Saugus 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% |
20.6%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,063±$68Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Stoneham 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. |
$4,678Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willimantic and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 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 | — | #194 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 | ||||
| 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.