Compare towns
Dedham vs Lyndeborough vs Sutton 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).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Lyndeborough | Sutton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,616Lowest |
2,239 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Sutton 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 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. |
$116,964±$17kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,133Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
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.