Compare towns
Needham vs Williamsburg vs Needham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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.
| Measure | Needham | Williamsburg | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
2,694Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 106% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Williamsburg | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 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.