Compare towns
Dedham vs Oakham vs Whately vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Oakham | Whately | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,639 |
1,499Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Quabbin | Whately | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.