Compare towns
Dedham vs Epping vs Strafford 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 most renters (26.6% rent).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Epping | Strafford | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
7,430 |
4,306Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Strafford 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 60% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Epping School District | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Epping High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.