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Needham vs Brewer vs Needham vs Dedham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

NeedhamNeedham, MANorfolk County · 32,459 people
BrewerBrewer, MEMaine · 9,652 people
Needham, MAMassachusetts · 32,459 people
DedhamDedham, MANorfolk County · 25,237 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).

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.

MeasureNeedhamBrewerNeedhamDedham
People
Population
32,459Highest
9,652Lowest
32,459Highest
25,237
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% 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%
20.9%±4.3
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%
22.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Brewer and Dedham 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%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer 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±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,374Lowest
8% 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%
55.7%±13.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Highest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1965Highest
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.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #19 of 282 in MA #32 of 133 in ME #19 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA
School district Needham Brewer Public Schools — Dedham
High school in town Needham High Brewer High School — Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9
14.0Highest
 —
10.4Lowest
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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.