Compare towns
Dedham vs Hull vs Needham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% 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 | Hull | Needham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
10,138Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hull 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% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 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 | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Needham and Hull 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 |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hull | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | Hull High | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| 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.