Compare towns
Colebrook vs Dedham vs Needham vs Bozrah
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Bozrah has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Colebrook | Dedham | Needham | Bozrah |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
2,293 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±7.4 19% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Bozrah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bozrah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$108,516±$11kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$311,200±$26kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,426±$108 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211 99% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,438Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±12.5 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 | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Dedham | — | Bozrah School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.