Compare towns
Chilmark vs Needham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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 | Chilmark | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest 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 | $168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest 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 | 4.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Chilmark 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.