Compare towns
Needham vs Stratham vs Needham 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
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Stratham | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
7,754Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above 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% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Stratham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Needham | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Needham High | 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 |
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.