Compare towns
Dedham vs North Hampton vs Wakefield
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 affordable homes ($662k median).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | North Hampton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
4,543Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton 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% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and North Hampton 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. |
$1,805±$106Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and Wakefield 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | North Hampton School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| 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.