Compare towns
Dedham vs Lisbon vs Putnam 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Lisbon | Putnam | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
4,211Lowest |
9,292 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Lisbon 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% |
21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Lisbon 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% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$92,708±$12k 15% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,044 30% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% 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% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Dedham 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% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Lisbon School District | Putnam School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Putnam High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.