Compare towns
Conway vs Dedham vs Needham vs Leverett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Conway | Dedham | Needham | Leverett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
1,608Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
| Leverett and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1Lowest 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 | $97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$104,688±$18k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$435,500±$35k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797Lowest 3% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,779 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Conway 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 | — |
| School district | Conway | — | Needham | Leverett |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.