Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Dedham vs Needham vs Dublin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dublin has the most homeowners (83.2%).
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 | Bethlehem | Dedham | Needham | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
1,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9 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 | $85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,165 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Bethlehem 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Dedham | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Dedham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— | — |
| 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.