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Dedham vs Quinebaug vs Needham vs Wakefield

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

DedhamDedham, MANorfolk County · 25,237 people
QuinebaugQuinebaug, CTConnecticut · 1,193 people
Needham, MAMassachusetts · 32,459 people
WakefieldWakefield, MAMiddlesex County · 27,793 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).

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.

MeasureDedhamQuinebaugNeedhamWakefield
People
Population
25,237
1,193Lowest
32,459Highest
27,793
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
56.5±1Highest
45% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
42.4±1.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
0%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Quinebaug 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%
10.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
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±$10k
60% above U.S.
$105,181±$36kLowest
30% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$237,800±$66kLowest
29% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
 —
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,958±$102Lowest
39% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918
154% above U.S.
$3,703Lowest
19% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
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%
1.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1965Highest
15 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 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±17.9
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
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 — #19 of 282 in MA #179 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
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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.