Compare towns
Dedham vs Ossipee vs Dedham 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
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Ossipee | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
4,521Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% 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. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest 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. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.