Compare towns
Dedham vs Readfield vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Readfield | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,651Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Readfield 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% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Maranacook Community High Sch | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.