Compare towns
Dedham vs Wakefield vs Woonsocket vs Needham
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Wakefield | Woonsocket | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
27,793 |
43,521Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | — |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Woonsocket High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— |
| 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.