Compare towns
Dedham vs Suffield vs Wakefield vs Foxborough
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 population (median age 44.6).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Foxborough has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Wakefield | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
15,702Lowest |
27,793Highest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Foxborough and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$115,833±$9kLowest 43% 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$606,300±$28k 82% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,843±$70 30% 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. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$7,275 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Foxborough 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Suffield School District | — | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Suffield High School | — | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.9 |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.