The Town FilesWakefield, Massachusetts
Community in Middlesex County · population 27,090 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $723,500
- Household income
- $134,306
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.4
Wakefield is a community of 27,090 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $723,500, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more walkable than 93% of Massachusetts towns, better transit than 92% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Massachusetts towns.
How Wakefield ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wakefield is worth $723,500, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $134,306, which is more affordable than 29% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,958 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wakefield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $723,500 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,958 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $134,306 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Wakefield
| People | Wakefield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.7% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 24.6% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 33.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Wakefield
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 50.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2014 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 11, 2006.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Wakefield itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Wakefield
8 public schools with 4,708 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | 9-12 | 1,343 | 11.2 |
| Galvin Middle School | 5-8 | 1,052 | 11.7 |
| Wakefield Memorial High | 9-12 | 840 | 10.1 |
| Woodville School | PK-4 | 450 | 11.5 |
| Dolbeare | K-4 | 447 | 13.5 |
| Greenwood | K-4 | 228 | 15.2 |
| Walton | K-4 | 213 | 15.2 |
| Early Childhood Center at the Doyle School | PK-PK | 135 | 13.5 |
Towns near Wakefield
- Lynnfield, MA2.4 mi · 13,000 people · home $917,600
- Stoneham, MA2.7 mi · 23,244 people · home $671,900
- Reading, MA3.0 mi · 25,518 people · home $809,000
- Melrose, MA3.4 mi · 29,817 people · home $822,900
- Saugus, MA3.6 mi · 28,619 people · home $603,400
- Woburn, MA4.7 mi · 40,876 people · home $673,500
- Malden, MA5.2 mi · 66,263 people · home $633,500
- North Reading, MA5.2 mi · 15,554 people · home $710,500
Wakefield questions
Is Wakefield, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wakefield scores better for retirees than 62% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 12%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Wakefield?
The median owner-occupied home in Wakefield is valued at $723,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $134,306, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $1,958 a month.
What is the weather like in Wakefield?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.0 inches of precipitation a year and 63.5 inches of snow.
Does Wakefield get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2014. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)