Compare towns
Dedham vs Stoddard vs Needham vs Stoneham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% 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.
| Measure | Dedham | Stoddard | Needham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,072Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 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. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Stoddard School District | Needham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Needham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.