Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Stow vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Needham | Stow | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
7,165Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Stow 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 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%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Nashoba | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town | 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.