Compare towns
Wakefield vs Gorham vs Dedham 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 most renters (29.3% rent).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Gorham | Dedham | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
18,300 |
25,237 |
13,064Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.4±2.1 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynnfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$175,265±$23kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$917,600±$31kHighest 176% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,676±$219Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynnfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Gorham Public Schools | Dedham | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Gorham High School | Dedham High | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.