Compare towns
Ashland vs Dedham vs Needham vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
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 | Ashland | Dedham | Needham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Framingham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA |
| Ashland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Dedham | Needham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Dedham High | Needham High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
12.7 |
| 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.