Compare towns
Colrain vs Dedham vs Needham vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Colrain | Dedham | Needham | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 | $80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Dedham | Needham | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.