Compare towns
Wakefield vs Newfields 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
2,023Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Dedham 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 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above 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 | $7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Newfields School District | 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 |
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.