Compare towns
Needham vs Hooksett vs Newton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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.
| Measure | Needham | Hooksett | Newton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
15,057Lowest |
89,044Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9 8% 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Newton 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Hooksett 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. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| 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±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newton 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% 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% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #25 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Hooksett School District | 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 |
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.