Compare towns
Needham vs Dedham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Dedham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
25,237 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.