Compare towns
Ashfield vs Dedham vs Needham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashfield | Dedham | Needham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,893 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197 13% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Dedham | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.