Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Northampton vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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 | Northampton | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
25,237Lowest |
30,962 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boston and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% 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 |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Boston 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Northampton High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
14.7 |
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.