Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Dedham vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Royalston has the most affordable homes ($346k 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 | Chesterfield | Dedham | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,055Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±7.6Lowest 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Royalston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,967±$11k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$102,109±$8kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$48k 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$409Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,650±$412 6% below MA |
| Dedham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,969 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Chesterfield 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 | — |
| School district | Chesterfield-Goshen | Dedham | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | None 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.