Compare towns
Cabot vs Dedham vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
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 | Cabot | Dedham | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,579 |
25,237Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Walden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,500±$77k 19% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$354 12% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639 49% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.