Compare towns
Brimfield vs Dedham vs Palmer Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brimfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Palmer Town has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Brimfield | Dedham | Palmer Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705Lowest |
25,237Highest |
12,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
47.8±5.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Palmer Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$78,480±$8kLowest 25% below MA |
| Dedham and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$271,400±$21kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,075±$103 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128 14% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,540Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±10.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Brimfield 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 | #108 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #252 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Dedham | Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Pathfinder Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.