Compare towns
Boston vs Dedham vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k 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 | Boston | Dedham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
25,237 |
20,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Boston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Dedham | Hudson |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Dedham High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
10.4 |
10.2Lowest |
| 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.