Compare towns
Wakefield vs Smithfield 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%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k median).
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 | Smithfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
22,233Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above 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%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Smithfield 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above 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. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Smithfield | Dedham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Smithfield High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.8Highest |
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.