Compare towns
Wakefield vs Dedham vs Foxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Wakefield | Dedham | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
25,237 |
18,615Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,843±$70Lowest 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 30% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,275Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Foxborough |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.