Compare towns
Boxborough vs Dedham vs Cohasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k 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 | Boxborough | Dedham | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
25,237Highest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.9±4.4 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cohasset and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA |
| Cohasset and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±15.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Cohasset 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 | #31 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham | Cohasset |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.