Compare towns
Needham vs Brewster vs Needham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewster has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Needham | Brewster | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
10,420Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Brewster | Needham | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Needham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.