Compare towns
Dedham vs Dummerston vs Putney 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).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dummerston | Putney | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,090Lowest |
2,622 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% 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% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Dummerston 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.