Compare towns
Dedham vs Bartlett vs Needham vs Foxborough
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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Bartlett has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Foxborough has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Bartlett | Needham | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
3,281Lowest |
32,459Highest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±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. |
$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$115,833±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$606,300±$28k 82% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,676±$97Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,843±$70 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,275 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett 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% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #74 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Bartlett School District | Needham | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Needham High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.