Compare towns
Dedham vs Needham vs Winchester vs Foxborough
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 the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Foxborough has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Winchester | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
32,459Highest |
10,284Lowest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Dedham 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$115,833±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$606,300±$28k 82% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,843±$70 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,780Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$7,275 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #97 of 149 in CT | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Needham | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Needham High | Northwestern Regional High School | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
11.9Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.