Compare towns
Wakefield vs Brewer 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
Brewer 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 | Brewer | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
9,652Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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 66% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Brewer Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Brewer High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
— |
| 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.