Stoneham vs Wakefield
The prices are within about $50k of each other, so schools break the tie: Wakefield is ahead — 74th percentile on MCAS against 53rd.
On tax, look past the rate: Stoneham works out roughly $2,000 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Stoneham if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Stoneham numbers →Choose Wakefield if you want the stronger schools of the two, or you want a train.
All Wakefield numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Stoneham | Wakefield | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS percentile | 53rd | 74th |
| Niche district rank | 80th of 236 | 104th of 236 |
| 4BR house | $825kT2 | $875kT2 |
| 2BR condo | $480k | $500k |
| Commute to Boston | 31 minT2 | 34 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~22 min to terminal |
| Tax rate | $10.06T2 | $11.74T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$8,300 | ≈$10,300 |
| 3BR rent | $3,230/mo | $3,403/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
