Compare towns
Avon vs Dedham vs Needham vs Randolph Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Randolph Town has the most renters (28.7% 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 | Avon | Dedham | Needham | Randolph Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459 |
34,878Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.3±1.8 3% above MA |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Randolph Town and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33k 26% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$109,573±$6kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$496,400±$21kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Lowest 12% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,103±$98 19% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 11% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,644Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Randolph Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #260 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Dedham | Needham | Randolph |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Dedham High | Needham High | Randolph High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
10.4 |
11.9 |
14.2Highest |
| 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.