Compare towns
Chester vs Dedham vs Clarksburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Clarksburg has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Chester | Dedham | Clarksburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,667 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
49.8±7.1Highest 25% above MA |
| Clarksburg and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
28.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$77,143±$11kLowest 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$239,900±$18kLowest 57% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,125±$190 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$2,993Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
65.2%±56.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Clarksburg and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | — | Clarksburg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.