Compare towns
Wakefield vs Thompson 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
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
9,337Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Dedham 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.