Population 12,121 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Wakefield
Household size in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Wakefield are small: just 2.27 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.34, in line with the national trend.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.6 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.0 | 41.4 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.7 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.6 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
Wakefield skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.1, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 43 Rhode Island cities with 5,000+ people, only two are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Wakefield: 5.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Wakefield has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Rhode Island cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Wakefield
Renters in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.6% | 37.0% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.2% | 39.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 38.6% | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 36.8% | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.0% of households in Wakefield rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than four in ten owners (44.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the southwest. The renter share has fallen 3.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.9% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.5% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.2% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.3% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Wakefield: 20.3% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.6 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1959 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1959 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1960 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Wakefield are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the Providence area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1962. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the south has the oldest housing. Only three of the 43 Rhode Island cities with 5,000+ people have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $979 | $928 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,011 | $974 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,259 | $1,103 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,372 | $1,439 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$393 | +$511 | +$507 | +$606 |
The median renter in Wakefield pays $1,372 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $393 a month since 2006–10, up 40%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Wakefield
Bachelor's degrees in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.3% | 28.5% | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 51.4% | 29.6% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 58.7% | 32.4% | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.5% | 35.2% | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.2 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Wakefield is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (59.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.2 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.6% | 82.1% | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.9% | 83.9% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.0% | 87.5% | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.2% | 88.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Wakefield: 96.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Wakefield
| Period | Wakefield | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Wakefield: 6.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Wakefield compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wakefield | 2.27 | 53.7 | 5.5% | 17.0% | 20.3% | 1982 | $1,372 | 59.5% | 96.2% | 6.1% |
| Tuckertown | 2.21 | 59.0 | 2.8% | 5.5% | 10.0% | 1984 | $1,281 | 56.7% | 95.8% | 3.7% |
| South Kingstown | 2.27 | 56.7 | 1.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% | 1986 | $1,379 | 58.3% | 96.1% | 4.7% |
| Wakefield-Peacedale | 2.28 | 42.6 | 5.4% | 34.5% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,316 | 61.6% | 96.2% | 3.6% |
| Narragansett Pier | 1.85 | 57.2 | 2.4% | 39.8% | 32.1% | 1976 | $1,770 | 62.9% | 96.5% | 7.6% |
| Kingston | 2.37 | 23.7 | 14.2% | 33.2% | 27.5% | 1980 | $961 | 71.8% | 97.9% | 9.7% |
| Kenyon | 2.60 | 46.9 | 6.0% | 7.2% | 11.1% | 1984 | $1,533 | 42.8% | 96.6% | 3.3% |
| Narragansett | 2.45 | 42.4 | 7.8% | 26.1% | 35.4% | 1974 | $2,034 | 65.0% | 97.7% | 6.2% |
| West Kingston | 2.87 | 45.6 | 8.9% | 6.7% | 6.4% | 1985 | $1,950 | 50.2% | 98.0% | 5.9% |
| Charlestown | 2.27 | 54.4 | 6.0% | 8.0% | 31.2% | 1977 | $1,473 | 41.8% | 95.7% | 4.7% |
| Saunderstown | 2.65 | 46.2 | 9.0% | 10.8% | 16.1% | 1975 | $1,941 | 63.9% | 97.5% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Escalon, CA · East Grand Rapids, MI · East Hampton, CT · East Hanover, NJ · East Rockaway, NY · Eastman, GA · Echelon, NJ · Edgewood, NM · Egg Harbor City, NJ · Elberton, GA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Wakefield. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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