Compare towns
Worcester vs Wakefield vs West Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
West Boylston has the most homeowners (77.9%).
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 | Worcester | Wakefield | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
27,793 |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
45.5±2.7Highest 14% above MA |
| West Boylston and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$104,551±$12k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$440,000±$24k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$6,115 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and West Boylston 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | West Boylston |
| High school in town | South High Community | — | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.