Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield vs Needham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Mansfield | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
23,931Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$7,226Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Mansfield | — | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.