Compare towns
Newton vs Dedham vs Wellesley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Wellesley has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Newton | Dedham | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
25,237Lowest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Dedham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 81.1% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Newton and Wellesley 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | — | Wellesley |
| High school in town | Newton North High | — | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
— | 10.8 |
| 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.