Compare towns
Wakefield vs Central Falls 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%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Central Falls | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
22,701Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Central Falls 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. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below 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. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% 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. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Dedham 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% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Dedham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Central Falls Sr High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
14.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.