Compare towns
Lynnfield vs Ayer vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($445k median).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Lynnfield | Ayer | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,064 |
3,098Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
| Wakefield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wakefield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lynnfield 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 | #27 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynnfield | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Lynnfield High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.