Compare towns
Acton vs Dedham vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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 | Acton | Dedham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
25,237Highest |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Marblehead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dedham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.