Compare towns
Dedham vs Needham vs Williamsburg
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 most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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 | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
32,459Highest |
2,694Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Williamsburg 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 | — |
| School district | Dedham | — | Williamsburg |
| 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 |
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.