What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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	Northfield	Wakefield
People
Population	2,872Lowest	27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA	42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wakefield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%	19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	59.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3 MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average	$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA	$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA	$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA	$7,779Highest 30% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8%	43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 8% above MA	33 minHighest 14% above MA
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wakefield and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#179 of 282 in MA
School district	Pioneer Valley	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	10.7
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.