Compare towns
Rye vs Needham 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
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
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 | Rye | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest 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 | $140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 141% 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 | 44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 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 | 6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rye School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.