Compare towns
Wakefield vs Windham vs Stoneham vs Saugus
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 renters (29.3% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k 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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Windham | Stoneham | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
16,038Lowest |
23,355 |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kLowest 81% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Windham School District | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Windham High School | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.