Compare towns
Dedham vs Putnam vs Wakefield vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Putnam | Wakefield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
7,120Lowest |
27,793Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% 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. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | 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 | 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.