Compare towns
Chaplin vs Dedham vs Needham vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Chaplin | Dedham | Needham | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 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 | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Dedham | Needham | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Dedham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.4 |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.