Compare towns
Dedham vs Hampton Beach vs Needham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Hampton Beach | Needham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,605Lowest |
32,459Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Hampton Beach 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 | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.