Compare towns

Dedham vs Killingly vs Wakefield vs Dedham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).

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.

MeasureDedhamKillinglyWakefieldDedham
People
Population
25,237
17,867Lowest
27,793Highest
25,237
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
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
99% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Wakefield and Dedham 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 #136 of 149 in CT #179 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield —
High school in town Dedham High Killingly High School Northeast Metro Regional Vocational —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
11.1Highest
10.7
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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.