Compare towns

Middleton vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield vs Hanson

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k 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.

MeasureMiddletonOgunquitWakefieldHanson
People
Population
9,816
1,379Lowest
27,793Highest
10,660
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±2
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.4±1.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hanson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hanson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$167,402±$29kHighest
107% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
Middleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$742,700±$48k
123% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
$533,900±$36kLowest
60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,407±$284Lowest
about the U.S. average
—
$1,958±$102Highest
39% above U.S.
$1,821±$860
29% above U.S.
Wakefield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,785Highest
182% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
$6,402
105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.7%±25.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 min
26% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
12.5%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #71 of 282 in MA — #179 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district Middleton — Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield Whitman-Hanson
High school in town None in town — Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.7Lowest
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.