Compare towns
Reading vs Dedham vs Needham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
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 | Reading | Dedham | Needham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
25,237Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 56% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Dedham | — | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Dedham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
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.