Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Lowell vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Lowell | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
25,237 |
1,070Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
33.3±0.2 14% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
| 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 154% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$4,456 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Lowell School District | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.