Compare towns
Dedham vs North Hampton vs Wakefield 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 most affordable homes ($662k median).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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 | North Hampton | Wakefield | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
4,543Lowest |
27,793 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%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. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%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% |
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±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% 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% |
83.1% 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. |
1965 15 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. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and North Hampton 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 | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | North Hampton School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
11.9Highest |
| 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.