Compare towns
Wakefield vs Dedham vs Lynnfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lynnfield has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Wakefield | Dedham | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
25,237 |
13,064Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lynnfield and Wakefield 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.