Compare towns
Dedham vs Dunstable vs Needham vs Foxborough
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Foxborough has the most affordable homes ($606k median).
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 | Dunstable | Needham | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
3,408Lowest |
32,459Highest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dunstable 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%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Dedham 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 |
$208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Needham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,843±$70 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,275Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Groton-Dunstable | 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 |
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.