Compare towns
Brimfield vs Dedham vs Rochester
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 affordable homes ($389k median).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Brimfield | Dedham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705Lowest |
25,237Highest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
| Rochester 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%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Rochester 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% |
20.1%±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% |
43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$22kLowest 7% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,100±$27kLowest 31% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$599,100±$31k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,432±$743 19% below MA |
| Dedham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,530 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Dedham | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.