Compare towns
Wakefield vs Lynn vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Lynn | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Lowest |
101,709Highest |
27,793Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lynn 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 |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Lynn | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Lynn English High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
15.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.