What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most homeowners (70.7%).

Westborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

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

Measure	Wakefield	Westborough
People
Population	27,793Highest	21,944Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+18%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA	38.8±1.6Lowest 3% below MA
Kids under 18	20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wakefield and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	65.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wakefield and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA	$141,944±$12kHighest 37% above MA
	Westborough and Wakefield 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	$685,300±$31kLowest 22% above MA
	Wakefield and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA	$2,106±$151Highest 20% above MA
	Westborough and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,779Lowest 30% above MA	$9,983Highest 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8%	40.9%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wakefield and Westborough 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%	6.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	61.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.5%±3.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Westborough 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	#21 of 282 in MA
School district	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield	Westborough
High school in town	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational	Westborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.8Highest
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.