Compare towns
Ware vs Needham vs Dedham vs New Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Ware | Needham | Dedham | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
35.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$79,688±$19k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,194±$88 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$4,509 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Needham | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Needham High | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.9Highest |
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.