Compare towns
Dedham vs Marblehead 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
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Marblehead | Salem | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
20,413Lowest |
44,795Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% MA: 47.3% |
78.3% 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% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,764±$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 |
$8,309 39% 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% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 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% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Salem | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Salem High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.