Compare towns
Dedham vs Needham vs Smithfield
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k 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 | Needham | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
32,459Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Smithfield 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Dedham | — | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.