Compare towns
Wakefield vs Walpole vs Dedham
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 expensive homes ($724k median).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Walpole | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
26,388 |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest 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% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Walpole 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 29% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Wakefield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Walpole and Dedham 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest 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% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Walpole High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.