Compare towns
Dedham vs Readfield vs Wayne 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
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Readfield | Wayne | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Dedham 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. |
$93,194±$26k 15% 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. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below 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. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Wakefield 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— | 10.7 |
| 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.