Compare towns
Boxborough vs Dedham vs Needham vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Boxborough | Dedham | Needham | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$213,996±$24k 106% above MA |
| Needham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham | Needham | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Needham High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.