Compare towns

Dedham vs Dedham vs Ossipee 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

Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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.

MeasureDedhamDedhamOssipeeBoston
People
Population
25,237
25,237
4,521Lowest
666,442Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
50±4.6Highest
29% above U.S.
33.3±0.2Lowest
14% below U.S.
Ossipee 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
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ossipee and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
26.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ossipee 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
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.8%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%
2.9%±1.7Lowest
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.
$90,521±$22kLowest
12% above 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.
$325,500±$23kLowest
about the U.S. average
$731,700±$10kHighest
120% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$1,601±$245Lowest
13% above 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.
$4,401Lowest
41% above U.S.
$4,456
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±16.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ossipee 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
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
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%
82%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.
1979Highest
1 yr older 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.
33 minHighest
27% 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%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
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 #100 of 120 in NH #258 of 282 in MA
School district — Dedham Governor Wentworth Regional 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.