Compare towns
Ayer vs Dedham vs Needham vs Devens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Ayer | Dedham | Needham | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 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 | $74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
| Needham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Devens 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | Needham | — |
| High school 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.