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Compare towns

Needham vs Freeport 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
FreeportFreeport, MECumberland County · 8,802 people
Needham, MAMassachusetts · 32,459 people
DedhamDedham, MANorfolk County · 25,237 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most affordable homes ($508k median).
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.

MeasureNeedhamFreeportNeedhamDedham
People
Population
32,459Highest
8,802Lowest
32,459Highest
25,237
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
48.8±4.3Highest
25% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
Freeport and Dedham 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%
19.4%±3.5
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%
26.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Freeport 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%
59.6%
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%
5%±2.3Lowest
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.
$107,326±$19kLowest
33% above 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.
$508,400±$76kLowest
53% above 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.
$1,439±$123Lowest
about the U.S. average
$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.
$5,042Lowest
62% 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%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport 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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.5%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%
77.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 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.
24 minLowest
11% 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%
21.2%±5.8
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 #4 of 133 in ME #19 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA
School district Needham RSU 05 — Dedham
High school in town Needham High Freeport High School — Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9
12.2Highest
 —
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.