Compare towns
Wakefield vs Putnam vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Putnam | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
7,120Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school 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.