Compare towns
Barnet vs Dedham vs Needham vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Peacham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Barnet | Dedham | Needham | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Peacham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Dedham | — | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.