Compare towns
Rumney vs Wakefield vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Ellsworth has the oldest population (median age 61.8).
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 | Rumney | Wakefield | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458 |
27,793Highest |
51Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
61.8±13.1Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±59.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.2%±46.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±33.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rumney and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$89,375±$39k 11% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$350,000±$170k 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716 51% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,813Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Rumney and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 24% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
— |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±26.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Ellsworth 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Rumney School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.