Compare towns
Dedham vs Exeter vs Wakefield vs Foxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Foxborough has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Wakefield | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
16,151Lowest |
27,793Highest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Foxborough and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$115,833±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$606,300±$28k 82% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,843±$70Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$7,275Lowest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Foxborough |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.