Compare towns
Boylston vs Dedham vs Needham vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the most affordable homes ($579k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Boylston | Dedham | Needham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 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 | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 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 | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Berlin 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Dedham | Needham | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Dedham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.