Compare towns
Berlin vs Middleton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Middleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
9,816 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Berlin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Middleton | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.