Compare towns
Needham vs Dedham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Dedham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
25,237Lowest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Dedham | — |
| High school 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 |
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.