Compare towns
Needham vs Berlin vs Newton 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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
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 | Berlin | Newton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
3,378Lowest |
89,044Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Newton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Berlin 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 67% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Newton 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Berlin-Boylston | Newton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Newton North High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.8 |
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.