Compare towns
Boylston vs Dedham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Boylston | Dedham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
25,237Highest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Boylston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Boylston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266Lowest 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.