Compare towns
Dedham vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Reading | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
699Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Reading and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Dedham 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Reading 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | 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 |
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.