Compare towns
Wakefield vs Halifax vs Dedham vs Saugus
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 people working from home (24.6%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Halifax | Dedham | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
7,748Lowest |
25,237 |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Saugus 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 29% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 29% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| 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 30% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,049Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Halifax | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.