Compare towns
Wakefield vs Hampton vs Dedham vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Hampton | Dedham | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
10,101Lowest |
25,237 |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Saugus 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Saugus 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 66% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,654±$93Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.