Compare towns

Dedham vs Newfields vs Wolfeboro

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 most renters (26.6% rent).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

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.

MeasureDedhamNewfieldsWolfeboro
People
Population
25,237Highest
2,023Lowest
6,571
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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
60% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$94,375±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$546,500±$60kLowest
64% above U.S.
Dedham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
Dedham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918
154% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Newfields 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Wolfeboro 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 — #46 of 120 in NH
School district Dedham Newfields School District Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town Dedham High None in town Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.