Compare towns
Wakefield vs Walpole 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 oldest population (median age 42.4).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
North Andover has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Walpole | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793 |
26,388Lowest |
31,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
| Wakefield and Walpole 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above 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±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| North Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 30% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$7,767Lowest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | North Andover |
| High school in town | — | Walpole High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
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.