What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

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	Lenox
People
Population	27,793Highest	5,079Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA
Kids under 18	20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lenox 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	$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average
	Wakefield and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA	$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,779Highest 30% above MA	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lenox 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%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	23 minLowest 22% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wakefield and Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA
School district	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield	Lenox
High school in town	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational	Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	7.6Lowest
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.