Compare towns
Needham vs Brookline 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
Brookline has the most renters (53.1% rent).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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 | Needham | Brookline | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
63,266Highest |
32,459 |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Brookline and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2 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 | #22 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Brookline | Needham | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Brookline High | Needham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.