Compare towns
Dedham vs Dudley vs Dedham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
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 | Dudley | Dedham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
11,929Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | 11.9 |
| 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.