Compare towns
Wakefield vs Ayer vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
8,645Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Wakefield 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Wakefield 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.