United States › Massachusetts › Wakefield CITY · 2020 ACS
Wakefield Massachusetts · 27,090 residents · 7.39 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 27,090 people, Wakefield is a city in Massachusetts. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $557,800. 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 33% nationally. The median household earns $103,696, about 56% above the national median. At a median age of 42.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. The poverty rate is 5.0%, under the national 12.8%.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.9
US median: 38.8
More educated
54% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
24K 25K 26K 27K 28K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Wakefield Age distribution, 2020
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $103,696
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,117 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $30,369 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 57.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 6.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 3%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.9%
Transportation & warehousing 2.8%
Education & health services 1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$557,800
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $240,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,513
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $795 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 72.0% in 2000
28.7% rent
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 4.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.4%(23,902)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(204)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 85.7%(23,223)
Hispanic / Latino 4.2%(1,146)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data from 39.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 90.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 19.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 77.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 74.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 2.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 31.8%(3,663)
Women 15+
Never married 24.5%(2,838)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 2.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 17.2%(229)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.4%(271)
Share of the 1,329 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Wakefield Head to head
Compare Wakefield to nearby cities WAKEFIELD VS
Lynnfield
Income $175,265 +69%
Home value $917,600 +65%
Population 13,064 −53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKEFIELD VS
Stoneham
Income $113,964 +10%
Home value $671,900 +20%
Population 23,355 −16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKEFIELD VS
Reading
Income $165,912 +60%
Home value $809,000 +45%
Population 25,612 −8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKEFIELD VS
Melrose
Income $133,953 +29%
Home value $822,900 +48%
Population 29,597 +6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Wakefield, Massachusetts? Wakefield, Massachusetts has about 27,090 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Wakefield, Massachusetts? The typical household in Wakefield, Massachusetts earns about $103,696 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Wakefield, Massachusetts expensive? In Wakefield, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $557,800, and the typical rent is about $1,513 a month.
How educated are people in Wakefield, Massachusetts? About 53.6% of adults age 25 and over in Wakefield, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Wakefield, Massachusetts? About 5.0% of people in Wakefield, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.
Has Wakefield, Massachusetts grown since 1990? Yes, Wakefield, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,265 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here