Compare towns
Wakefield vs Wolcott vs North Andover
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 people working from home (24.6%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
North Andover has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Wolcott | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793 |
16,279Lowest |
31,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wolcott and Wakefield 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% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield and Wolcott 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| North Andover 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±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,464±$913Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$5,799Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$7,767 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Andover and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and North Andover 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Wolcott School District | North Andover |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Wolcott High School | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.1Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
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.