Compare towns
Wakefield vs Dedham vs Wakefield
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
25,237Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 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%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% 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 | $7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.