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Dedham vs Putnam vs Dedham vs Wakefield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

DedhamDedham, MANorfolk County · 25,237 people
PutnamPutnam, CTNortheastern Connecticut Planning Region · 9,292 people
DedhamDedham, MAMassachusetts · 25,237 people
WakefieldWakefield, MAMiddlesex County · 27,793 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).

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.

MeasureDedhamPutnamDedhamWakefield
People
Population
25,237
9,292Lowest
25,237
27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
 —
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
42.4±1.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield and Dedham 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%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% 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.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1961Highest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
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 #119 of 282 in MA #179 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Putnam School District — Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town Dedham High Putnam High School — Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4
9.5Lowest
 —
10.7Highest
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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.