Compare towns
Dedham vs Chilmark vs Needham vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Dedham | Chilmark | Needham | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,578Lowest |
32,459 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Chilmark and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 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 | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Chilmark 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 | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Up-Island Regional | Needham | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Needham High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| 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.