Compare towns
Wakefield vs Newfields vs Dedham vs Foxborough
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 expensive homes ($724k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Dedham | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
2,023Lowest |
25,237 |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$115,833±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$606,300±$28kLowest 82% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,843±$70Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,275Lowest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 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. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Wakefield 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 | — | Newfields School District | Dedham | Foxborough |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.