Compare towns
Needham vs Barnstable Town vs Needham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstable Town has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Barnstable Town | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
49,568Highest |
32,459 |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.1±1.9Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Barnstable Town 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 |
$91,982±$6kLowest 12% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$602,500±$14kLowest 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,917±$127Lowest 9% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,975Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Barnstable Town 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #189 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Barnstable | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Needham High | Barnstable High | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.6 |
— | 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.