Compare towns
Needham vs Everett vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Everett | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
50,045Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dedham 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.