Compare towns
Conway vs Dedham vs Needham vs Whately
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Conway and Whately 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% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Conway and Whately 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest 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% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$431,500±$22k 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 |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797 3% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29 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 | 4.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.2% 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 |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% 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% |
20.4%±8.5 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 | Whately |
| 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.