Compare towns
Dedham vs Walpole vs Wakefield vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Walpole | Wakefield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
26,388 |
27,793Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Wakefield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Walpole and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Walpole High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.