What stands out worked out from the figures below

Medfield has the most kids (28.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Medfield	Wayland
People
Population	13,068Lowest	13,914Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3Lowest 6% above MA	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%	24.3%±2.5Lowest 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%	18.7%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wayland and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	78.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wayland and Medfield 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	$224,000±$28kLowest 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±$32kLowest 62% above 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	$1,475±$603Lowest 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+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.1%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8%	42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Medfield and Wayland 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%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	36.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	35.1%±4.1Lowest 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	#18 of 282 in MA
School district	Medfield	Wayland
High school in town	Medfield Senior High	Wayland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.