Compare towns

Wakefield vs Standish 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).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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.

MeasureWakefieldStandishLynnfield
People
Population
27,793Highest
10,662Lowest
13,064
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±1.7Highest
9% above U.S.
40.5±2.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
41.4±2.1
6% above U.S.
Wakefield and Lynnfield 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%
16.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.9%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
36%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
11.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
$104,593±$15kLowest
30% above U.S.
$175,265±$23kHighest
117% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
$336,000±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$917,600±$31kHighest
176% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
$983±$453Lowest
30% below U.S.
$2,676±$219Highest
89% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,779
149% above U.S.
$3,005Lowest
4% below U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.4%±22.3
U.S.: 51.1%
69.2%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lynnfield and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
Work from home
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±3.8Lowest
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 #18 of 133 in ME #27 of 282 in MA
School district Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield RSU 06/MSAD 06 —
High school in town Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Bonny Eagle High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
12.5Highest
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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.