Compare towns
Dedham vs Heath vs Rowe vs Needham
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 most renters (26.6% rent).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k 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 | Heath | Rowe | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
765 |
453Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Rowe 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
— | $1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Heath 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 | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Rowe | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | 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 | 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.