Compare towns

Lynnfield vs Ripton vs Worcester vs Wakefield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynnfield has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).

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.

MeasureLynnfieldRiptonWorcesterWakefield
People
Population
13,064
508Lowest
831
27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±2.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
28%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$175,265±$23kHighest
117% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$917,600±$31kHighest
176% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,676±$219Highest
89% above U.S.
—
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.2%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Lynnfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
22% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
27.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — — #179 of 282 in MA
School district Lynnfield Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town Lynnfield High None in town None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.0
— — —
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.