What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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	Wellesley
People
Population	27,793Lowest	30,347Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA	37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA
Kids under 18	20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wellesley and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	89%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA	$250,001Highest 140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA	$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA	$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,779Lowest 30% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wellesley and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest MA: 10%	4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#179 of 282 in MA	#6 of 282 in MA
School district	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield	Wellesley
High school in town	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational	Wellesley Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	10.8Highest
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.