Compare towns
Casco vs Dedham vs Needham vs Poland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Casco has the oldest population (median age 52).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Poland has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Casco | Dedham | Needham | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,696Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
5,954 |
| 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% |
+9.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±3.3Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±9.4 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Casco and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest 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 | $69,313±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$85,557±$23k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$58k 7% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$283,600±$44kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$184 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,198±$128Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,085 about the U.S. average |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,774Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±35.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.6%±30.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Poland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.6%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Casco 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 | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Dedham | Needham | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Needham High | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.