Compare towns
Medfield vs Exeter vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medfield has the most kids (28.2% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wayland has the most expensive homes ($978k median).
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 | Medfield | Exeter | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,068Lowest |
16,151Highest |
13,914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45±1.5 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Medfield and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $235,800±$32kHighest 192% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$224,000±$28k 177% above U.S. |
| Medfield and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $911,100±$32k 174% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$978,400±$36kHighest 194% above U.S. |
| Wayland and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$559Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,475±$603Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Medfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Medfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.1%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Medfield and Wayland 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 | #26 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medfield | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wayland |
| High school in town | Medfield Senior High | Exeter High School | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.1 |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.