Compare towns
Epping vs Dedham vs Needham vs Epsom
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Epping | Dedham | Needham | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 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 | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,210Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Dedham | — | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Dedham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— | — |
| 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.