Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Dedham vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Buzzards Bay | Dedham | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909Lowest |
25,237Highest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
| Dedham and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Buzzards Bay 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.