Compare towns
Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Peabody 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Peabody has the most affordable homes ($596k median).
Wakefield has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Peabody | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,379Lowest |
54,695Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Peabody 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Peabody 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12kLowest 79% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,950±$99Lowest 38% 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 | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,065 62% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Dedham 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #228 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Peabody | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.