Compare towns
Wellesley vs Wakefield vs Wellesley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Wellesley | Wakefield | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
27,793Lowest |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 282 in MA | #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 | 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.