Compare towns
Bartlett vs Dedham vs Wakefield vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Bartlett | Dedham | Wakefield | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281 |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
897Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7 48% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Jackson 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.