What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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.

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

Measure	Wakefield	Lee
People
Population	27,793Highest	5,719Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA	55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA
Kids under 18	20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lee 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 29% above MA	$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA	$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA	$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,779Highest 30% above MA	$3,980Lowest 34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lee 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%	7.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	18 minLowest 38% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wakefield and Lee 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	#209 of 282 in MA
School district	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield	Lee
High school in town	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational	Lee Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	9.2Lowest
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.