Compare towns
Berlin vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
44,795Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above 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 | $7,116 19% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Salem | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.