Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Kingston vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most homeowners (81.2%).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Dedham | Kingston | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
25,237 |
14,027Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.5±3.9Highest 16% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kingston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Kingston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Kingston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$119,876±$13k 15% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$610,600±$30kLowest 9% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,159±$244Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,650 28% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
35.9%±13Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston 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 | #99 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Kingston · Silver Lake | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Silver Lake Regional High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.0 |
18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.