Compare towns
Bridgewater Town vs Dedham vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater Town has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Bridgewater Town | Dedham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,471Highest |
25,237 |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±1.6Lowest 6% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.2%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,651±$7kLowest 8% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| Dedham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,100±$23k 5% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,092±$177Highest 19% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
| Bridgewater Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,499Lowest 8% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±13.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Bridgewater Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Halifax 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 | #121 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bridgewater-Raynham | Dedham | Halifax |
| High school in town | Bridgewater-Raynham Regional | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.