Compare towns
Dedham vs Needham vs Stratham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Stratham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
32,459Highest |
7,754Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% 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% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Stratham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.