Compare towns
Dedham vs Wakefield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k 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 | Wakefield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
27,793Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
| 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 18% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
— |
| 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 32% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | 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 |
MA 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.