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