Compare towns
Dedham vs North Hampton vs Needham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | North Hampton | Needham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
4,543Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 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. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Hampton School District | Needham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Needham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.