What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lenox	Wakefield
People
Population	5,079Lowest	27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA	42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%	19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	59.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lenox and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average	$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA
	Wakefield and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA	$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA	$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA	$7,779Highest 30% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%	43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lenox and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	33 minHighest 14% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wakefield and Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA	#179 of 282 in MA
School district	Lenox	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.