Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
25,237Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Nahant and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,777±$334Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,615Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Nahant |
| High school 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.