What are the schools like in Wakefield, MA?

Wakefield is served primarily by Wakefield. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

What is the median household income in Wakefield?

The median household income in Wakefield, MA is $125,592 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.

What is the weather like in Wakefield, MA?

Wakefield has an average high temperature of 37.6°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 63.5 inches.

Wakefield, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Wakefield, MA affordable or expensive?

Wakefield's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wakefield is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $646,400 and the median rent is $1,742 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wakefield, MA?

Wakefield has a violent crime rate of 174.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 409.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wakefield, MA a Good Place to Live?

Wakefield is a small city of 27,054 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $125,592 and a 4.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Wakefield stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Wakefield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wakefield city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Wakefield's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wakefield costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Wakefield, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$646,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,742	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$125,592	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Wakefield's violent crime rate is 174.9 per 100,000 residents — 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

174.9 /100k

Property Crime

409.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Wakefield is served primarily by Wakefield. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wakefield, MA	National Avg
School District	Wakefield	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	56.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wakefield sees average highs of 37.6°F in January and 83.8°F in July, with 50.0 inches of annual precipitation and 63.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wakefield, MA
Average High — January	37.6°F
Average High — July	83.8°F
Annual Precipitation	50.0"
Annual Snowfall	63.5"

Demographics

Metric	Wakefield, MA	National Avg
Population	27,054	—
Median Age	43.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	4.1%	6.3%
Under 18	20.2%	22.2%
65 and over	19.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lynnfield, MA 2 mi Stoneham, MA 3 mi Reading, MA 3 mi Melrose, MA 3 mi Saugus, MA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Wakefield

Wakefield, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01880

Wakefield vs Other Cities

Wakefield, MA vs Lynnfield, MA Wakefield, MA vs Stoneham, MA Wakefield, MA vs Reading, MA Wakefield, MA vs Melrose, MA Wakefield, MA vs Saugus, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wakefield, MA affordable or expensive?

Wakefield's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Wakefield roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $646,400 and median rent is $1,742/month.

What is the crime rate in Wakefield, MA?

Wakefield's violent crime rate is 174.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 409.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wakefield?

Public schools in Wakefield are operated by Wakefield. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 56.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wakefield, MA a good place to live?

Wakefield, MA has a population of 27,054, a median household income of $125,592, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Wakefield?

Wakefield averages 37.6°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.0 inches with about 63.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wakefield?

Wakefield, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01880.

What is the population of Wakefield?

The population of Wakefield, Massachusetts is 27,054 with a median age of 43.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wakefield?

Key numbers for living in Wakefield: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $646,400, median household income $125,592, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wakefield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.