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Dedham vs Needham vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

DedhamDedham, MAMassachusetts · 25,237 people
NeedhamNeedham, MANorfolk County · 32,459 people
OgunquitOgunquit, MEYork County · 1,379 people
WakefieldWakefield, MAMiddlesex County · 27,793 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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.

MeasureDedhamNeedhamOgunquitWakefield
People
Population
25,237
32,459Highest
1,379Lowest
27,793
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.4±1.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16kLowest
99% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
 —
$1,958±$102Lowest
39% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918
154% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Needham 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 — Needham — Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town — Needham High — Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9Highest
 —
10.7Lowest
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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.