Compare towns
Dedham vs Dublin vs Hudson 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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Dublin has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Dublin | Hudson | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,688Lowest |
20,077 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dublin 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% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin 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% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Lowest 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. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,165 162% above U.S. |
$6,892Lowest 121% 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% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Dublin 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 | — | #224 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Contoocook Valley School District | Hudson | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Hudson High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 10.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.