Compare towns
Dalton vs Dedham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Dalton | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dalton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.