Compare towns
Dedham vs Thornton vs Wakefield vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,799Lowest |
27,793Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 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%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% 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. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% 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% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Thornton School District | 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 | 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.