Compare towns
Dennis vs Needham vs Dennis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dennis has the most affordable homes ($627k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dennis has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Dennis | Needham | Dennis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,868 |
32,459Highest |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.5±2 49% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
63.3±6.5Highest 58% above MA |
| Dennis and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±7.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
46.5%±6.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dennis and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$109,882±$12k 6% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,100±$28kLowest 12% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$944,500±$93k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$260 19% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,199±$299Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,877Lowest 52% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,894 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±9.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
28.4%±21.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dennis and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
16 minLowest 46% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±13.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Dennis 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 | #238 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #238 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dennis-Yarmouth | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.