Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield vs Salem 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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% 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 | Mansfield | Salem | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
23,931Lowest |
44,795Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Mansfield | Salem | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High | Salem High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
11.1 |
9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.