Compare towns
Wakefield vs Milton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
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 | Milton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793 |
28,587Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest 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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest 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% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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 |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Milton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Milton High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.4Highest |
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.