Compare towns
Dedham vs Newton vs Salisbury 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).
Newton has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Newton | Salisbury | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
4,836Lowest |
9,281 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 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. |
$138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,124 160% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% 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% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Salisbury 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH | #240 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Sanborn Regional School District | Triton | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.