Compare towns
Dedham vs Durham vs Dedham 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
Durham has the most affordable homes ($322k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Durham | Dedham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
4,262Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% 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% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #14 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | RSU 05 | — | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.