Compare towns
Dedham vs Ashfield vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k 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 | Dedham | Ashfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,893Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High |
| 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.