Compare towns
Bellingham vs Dedham vs Bridgewater Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Bridgewater Town has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
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 | Bellingham | Dedham | Bridgewater Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Lowest |
25,237 |
28,471Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5 4% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
37.6±1.6Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bellingham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
16.2%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$112,651±$7kLowest 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$533,100±$23k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,092±$177Highest 19% above MA |
| Bridgewater Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,499 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±13.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Bellingham 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 | #232 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #121 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Dedham | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Dedham High | Bridgewater-Raynham Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
10.4Lowest |
18.1Highest |
| 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.