Compare towns
Dedham vs Eastham vs Wakefield vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Eastham | Wakefield | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
5,811Lowest |
27,793Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
54.4% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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 |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 |
$732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Eastham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,747±$101Lowest about the MA average |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Eastham 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Eastham · Nauset | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Nauset Regional High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
10.7 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.