Compare towns
Northfield vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Northfield | Ogunquit | Wakefield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
1,379Lowest |
27,793Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #231 of 282 in MA | — | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.