Compare towns
Acushnet vs Dedham vs Monson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Monson has the most affordable homes ($348k 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 | Acushnet | Dedham | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,624 |
25,237Highest |
8,136Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
47.8±3.2Highest 20% above MA |
| Monson and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Acushnet and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Monson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$96,688±$14k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$348,400±$15kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$354 34% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,647Lowest 22% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,877 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±7.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Monson 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 | #118 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #235 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | Dedham | Monson |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Monson High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
8.2Lowest |
| 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.