Compare towns
Medfield vs Townsend vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medfield has the most kids (28.2% under 18).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Wayland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Townsend | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,068 |
9,100Lowest |
13,914Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
45±1.5Highest 13% above MA |
| Wayland and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wayland and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.1% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 127% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$224,000±$28k 115% above MA |
| 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 62% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,475±$603 16% below MA |
| Medfield and Wayland 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 67% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Medfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.1%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medfield | North Middlesex | Wayland |
| High school in town | Medfield Senior High | North Middlesex Regional | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.