Compare towns
Lynnfield vs Windham vs Wakefield vs Hanover
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 expensive homes ($918k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Windham | Wakefield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,064 |
594Lowest |
27,793Highest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
| Windham and Wakefield 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lynnfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Wakefield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wakefield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $175,265±$23k 117% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $917,600±$31kHighest 176% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39k 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,676±$219Highest 89% above U.S. |
— | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$9,342 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynnfield and Hanover 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest 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 | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynnfield | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lynnfield High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 10.7 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.