Overview

Introduction to Wakefield, Massachusetts

Wakefield, Massachusetts, in Middlesex county, is 5 miles N of Malden, Massachusetts and 10 miles N of Boston, Massachusetts. The town is part of the Boston metropolitan statistical area.

Wakefield History

In 1639, Wakefield was first settled. At that time it was a part of the Lynn Village. It was incorporated in 1812 and was named South Reading. In 1844, a railroad was built between Boston and Wilmington. The Rattan Works, which later on became the Wakefield Rattan Company, was established by Cyrus Wakefield in 1856. The town of Wakefield was named after him in 1868, as Cyrus donated land and money for the construction of the Town Hall.

Wakefield and nearby Attractions

  • Crystal Lake Dental
  • Lake Quannapowitt
  • James W Leach Memorial Park
  • Museum of Science
  • Salem Witch Museum

Things To Do In Wakefield

The town of Wakefield offers both summer and winter sports at Lake Quannapowitt. If you are fond of wind-surfing, you can enjoy your leisure time at the Wakefield yacht club. The Recreation Commission of Wakefield also organizes various sport programs and events.

Wakefield Transportation

Air transportation is available from Boston Logan International Airport.

Wakefield Higher Education

Tufts University is nearby.

Demographics

People

Total Population26,960
Male Share of the Population48.1%
Female Share of the Population51.9%
Senior Citizens18.6%
Employed Population 16+14,963
Age of the Population45

Families

% of people married54.7%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher64.9%
Median Earnings25+$58,172
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$30,497
Median Earnings With High School Degree$38,083

Wealth

Median Family Income$116,958
% Above Poverty Level96%
% Below Poverty Level4%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time31 minutes
% Working from Home3.9%
% Walking and Biking to Work2.8%
% Using Public Transportation8.1%

Housing

People Living Alone26.9%
Median Gross Rent$1,360
Median House Value$470,900

Ancestry

Irish33%
Italian27.8%
English12.1%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)11.8%
German6.1%
Canadian4.3%
Polish4.3%
French Except Basque4.1%
Scottish2.7%
Portuguese2.1%
Greek2%
Russian1.6%
Swedish1.2%
Arab0.9%
Lebanese0.7%
Lithuanian0.6%
US/American0.5%
Norwegian0.4%
Hungarian0.4%
Dutch0.4%
Welsh0.3%
Slovene0.3%
West Indian0.3%
Iranian0.3%
Austrian0.3%
Brazilian0.3%
Ukrainian0.2%
Albanian0.2%
Swiss0.2%
Czech0.2%
Danishn0.2%
Barbadian0.1%
Jamaican0.1%
Trinidad Tobago0.1%
Bahamian0.1%
Romanian0.1%
Belgian0.1%
Slovak0.1%
Finnish0.1%
+ Show More

Wakefield Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyMiddlesex County
Standard Zip Codes01880
Phone Area Codes3,39,781
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude42.5
Approximate Longitude-71.06

Wakefield Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationREADING
Distance3.1 miles
Jan Temp16 to 35 F
Apr Temp35 to 58 F
Jul Temp60 to 83 F
Oct Temp39 to 62 F
Annual Precip48.3 inches
StationMARBLEHEAD
Distance10.5 miles
Jan Temp20 to 37 F
Apr Temp38 to 57 F
Jul Temp63 to 82 F
Oct Temp45 to 62 F
Annual Precip45.5 inches
StationBEDFORD
Distance10.8 miles
Jan Temp16 to 35 F
Apr Temp36 to 58 F
Jul Temp60 to 83 F
Oct Temp39 to 62 F
Annual Precip46.9 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Lynnfield12,847$151,921
Melrose28,116$140,709
Reading25,100$143,460
Saugus28,158$96,096
Stoneham22,144$118,219
Woburn40,298$105,485

Wakefield Public Libraries

Lucius Beebe Memorial Library
345 MAIN STREET
Wakefield, Massachusetts
(781) 246-6334

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Wakefield Public Schools

Dolbeare
340 Lowell Street
ZIP: 1880
(781) 246-6480
Primary
Total Enrollment 398
Early Childhood Center At The Doyle School
11 Paul Avenue
ZIP: 1880
(781) 246-6420
Primary
Total Enrollment 130
Galvin Middle School
525 Main Street
ZIP: 1880
(781) 246-6410
Middle
Total Enrollment 1113
Greenwood
1030 Main Street
ZIP: 1880
(781) 246-6460
Primary
Total Enrollment 236
Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
100 Hemlock Rd
ZIP: 1880
(781) 246-0810
High
Total Enrollment 1267
Wakefield Memorial High
60 Farm Street
ZIP: 1880
(781) 246-6440
High
Total Enrollment 1030
Walton
18 Davidson Road
ZIP: 1880
(781) 246-6494
Primary
Total Enrollment 188
Woodville School
30 Farm Street
ZIP: 1880
(781) 246-6469
Primary
Total Enrollment 344

Wakefield Private Schools

Nazareth Academy
27 Cordis St
ZIP: 1880
Secondary
Total Enrollment 72
Odyssey Day School
11 Paul Ave
ZIP: 1880
Elementary
Total Enrollment 58
St Joseph School
15 Gould St
ZIP: 1880
Elementary
Total Enrollment 163
Sources :
Our Partner Listings
Additional Resources
Info for Wakefield Government Officials


Are you an official in the Wakefield government or quasi-government agency such as the chamber of commerce, visitors bureau or economic development council? If so, visit our information page for government officials to see how CityTownInfo can support you.