Compare towns
Needham vs Putnam vs Dover vs Dedham
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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Putnam | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
9,292 |
2,308Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dedham 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%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.