Compare towns
Ayer vs Dedham vs Needham vs Warren
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).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Ayer | Dedham | Needham | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% 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 | 20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 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% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$17k 28% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,530Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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 | 6.9% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Needham | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Needham High | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
11.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.