Compare towns
Wakefield vs Central Falls vs Lynnfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).
Lynnfield has the highest household income ($175k).
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 | Central Falls | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
22,701 |
13,064Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.4±2.1 6% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
28%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynnfield and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Central Falls 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±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$175,265±$23kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$917,600±$31kHighest 176% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,676±$219Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynnfield and Central Falls 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% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lynnfield 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Central Falls Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
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.