Compare towns
Dedham vs Swampscott vs Needham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swampscott has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Swampscott | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
15,277Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Needham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Swampscott 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Swampscott | Needham | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Swampscott High | Needham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
11.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.