What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most kids (20% under 18).

Burlington has the shortest commute (28 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wakefield	Burlington
People
Population	27,793Highest	26,274Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA	45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA
	Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wakefield and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Burlington 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 MA: 47.3%	58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Burlington 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±$14kLowest 29% above MA	$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA
	Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA	$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA
	Burlington 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	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,779Highest 30% above MA	$6,165Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Burlington 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%	5.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wakefield and Burlington 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	#83 of 282 in MA
School district	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield	Burlington
High school in town	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational	Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.