Town · Massachusetts
Wenham, Massachusetts
Wenham, town, in Essex County, Massachusetts. Wenham had 4,952 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,979 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,929 (±22). GEOID 2500974595.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,952
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,979 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,929 ±22
Median household income
$194,781
±$32,680 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$885,400
±$48,059 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
not published
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Wenham and what county is it in?
Wenham is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts. It covers 7.7 square miles of land, 650 residents per square mile in 2020.
Wenham is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Wenham is the same area as Census Tract 2161 of Essex County: the tract's figures are Wenham's own.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Wenham, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,952 people lived in Wenham on July 1, 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, while Massachusetts grew 1.7%. The 2020 Census counted 4,979 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,929 (±22).
| Measure | Wenham | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,929±22 | 813,054 | −311 |
| Households | 1,279±81 | 313,147 | −139 |
| Average household size | 2.87±0.18 | 2.54 | +0.27 |
| Housing units | 1,334±86 | 329,776 | no clear change |
Wenham's population since 2000
From 4,440 in 2000 to 4,952 in 2025: up 11.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Wenham as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Wenham?
The median resident of Wenham is 29.3 years old; 18.9% are under 18 and 14.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.6%. 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wenham | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.3±9.3 | 41.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.9%±2.2 pts | 20.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.6%±1.9 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Male | 47.1%±3.5 pts | 48.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.6%±3.1 pts | 24.1% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.6%±3.7 pts | 64.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7%±1.2 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.3%±1.0 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.4%±0.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.9%±2.4 pts | 19.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.6%±2.9 pts | 28.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.0%±1.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| With a disability | 7.6%±2.2 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.6%±2.5 pts | 2.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 99.6%±0.5 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 70.8%±5.5 pts | 43.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 29.3%±5.8 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.7%±3.7 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.3%±2.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Wenham earn?
Half of Wenham's 1,279 households earn less than $194,781 a year (±$32,680), against $101,883 in Essex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $157,598 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 3.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wenham | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $194,781±$32,680 | $101,883 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $218,028±$26,748 | $140,098 | – |
| Per capita income | $59,465±$7,427 | $54,665 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.7%±2.4 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.5%±1.0 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.2%±2.8 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.7%±3.2 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.7%±3.2 pts | 92.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Wenham?
Owners occupy 85.7% of Wenham's occupied homes and renters 14.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $885,400 by its owner (±$48,059).
| Measure | Wenham | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $885,400±$48,059 | $619,100 | +$140,707 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.6%±22.7 pts | 46.4% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $2,867 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.7%±4.6 pts | 63.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 14.3%±4.6 pts | 36.5% | – |
| Housing units | 1,334±86 | 329,776 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±3.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±20.6 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.4%±6.2 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±3.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±3.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.8%±4.5 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.7%±7.4 pts | 34.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.9%±3.6 pts | 9.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Wenham building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Wenham in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.2 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Wenham work and get to work?
55.6% of Wenham's workers drive alone and 29.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.6%.
| Measure | Wenham | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.1%±4.6 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6%±1.7 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 55.6%±5.7 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.0%±2.3 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.8%±2.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Walked | 7.4%±2.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 29.4%±5.7 pts | 16.4% | +14.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.5 min±4.1 | 28.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Wenham?
1 census tract lies mostly in Wenham (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2161Essex County | 4,929 | $194,781 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Wenham) · Census block assignment files
How does Wenham compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Wenham is the 2,327th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 171st-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Wenham ranks 31st of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 171st | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 243rd | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 280th | 461 |
| Median household income | 31st | 453 |
| Per capita income | 186th | 460 |
| Median home value | 52nd | 459 |
| Poverty rate | 281st | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52nd | 459 |
| Median age | 457th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 134th | 460 |
| Work from home | 60th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 299th | 459 |
Wenham's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Wenham with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Wenham?
15 of the 56 figures for Wenham on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Wenham are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.