Compare towns
Avon vs Dedham vs Wakefield vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Avon | Dedham | Wakefield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Dedham 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 |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Wakefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 12% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 | #212 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
10.4 |
10.7 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.