Compare towns
Dedham vs Needham vs Pittsfield vs Wakefield
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Pittsfield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
32,459 |
43,457Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Pittsfield 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Needham | Pittsfield | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Needham High | Taconic High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
11.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.