Compare towns
Heath vs Wakefield vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Heath | Wakefield | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
27,793Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wakefield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Wakefield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,351Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.