Compare towns
Dedham vs Thornton 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).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Thornton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,799Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Thornton 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% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Thornton School District | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.