Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Everett vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Dover | Everett | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,308Lowest |
50,045Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Dover 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Everett 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 24% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
— | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Everett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Everett | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Everett High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.