Compare towns
Wakefield vs Douglas vs North Andover
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 people working from home (24.6%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
North Andover has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Douglas | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793 |
9,207Lowest |
31,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield and North Andover 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
| Douglas and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,767 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Douglas | North Andover |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.