Compare towns
Wakefield vs Devens vs Lynnfield
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 most renters (29.3% rent).
Devens has the most affordable homes ($557k median).
Lynnfield has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Devens | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
1,723Lowest |
13,064 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens 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 |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$175,265±$23k 69% above MA |
| Devens and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 30% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lynnfield 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% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Lynnfield 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 | — | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
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.