Wakefield, MA: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Wakefield is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the greater Boston metropolitan area, incorporated in 1812 and located about 12.5 mi (20.1 km) north-northwest of Downtown Boston. Wakefield's population was 27,090 at the 2020 census. Wakefield offers an assortment of activities around the local lake, Lake Quannapowitt.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Wakefield ranks

All →

#5Highest graduation rate in MA #16Most new homes in MA #24Fewest uninsured in MA All MA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code01880

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Wakefield

Housing in Wakefield

$819K▲ 2.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Wakefield home is worth about $819,000, up 2.3% in a year, 24% above the Massachusetts typical home.

Only 1 sale in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Wakefield

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Wakefield reports less crime per resident than 77% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade. Massachusetts has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Wakefield sits closer to the middle.

Violent crime per 1,000

Wakefield 1.4

Massachusetts 3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Wakefield 3.3

Massachusetts 10.4

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Wakefield

Compared with Massachusetts

19better than MA·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 12 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▲ 1▼ 6 close Habits 3▲ 1 close Care 4▲ 3 close Mind 3▲ 2 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.2%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethMA 11.9% · better 7.6%Fewer adults facing food insecurityMA 12.4% · better 9.6%More adults who have had cancerMA 8.5% · worse

Care nearby

Melrosewakefield HealthcareMelrose · 3 mi · ER

Market Square Family Hlth SvcsLynn · 5.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP code 01880 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Wakefield →

Schools in Wakefield

All Wakefield schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Wakefield’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 65% of Massachusetts’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Wakefield’s schools compare in MA →

DistrictWakefieldSchools10

Woodville School BElementary · Grades PK–4 · 456 students Dolbeare B+Elementary · Grades K–4 · 443 students Greenwood A-Elementary · Grades K–4 · 227 students Walton A-Elementary · Grades K–4 · 218 students St. Joseph SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 267 students Odyssey Day SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 109 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MA. Ratings are from neighbors.