Compare towns
Dedham vs Nelson vs Peabody vs Needham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Peabody has the most renters (34.4% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Nelson | Peabody | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
648Lowest |
54,695Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Peabody 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% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Nelson 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 | — | #228 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Nelson School District | Peabody | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.