Compare towns

Dedham vs Dedham vs Rowley

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

MeasureDedhamDedhamRowley
People
Population
25,237Highest
25,237Highest
1,708Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
46.3±16.7Highest
16% above MA
Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.3%±6.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
21.9%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.3%±4.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
Rowley 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
57.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Rowley and Dedham 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
$109,622±$17kLowest
5% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$614,800±$39kLowest
9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,663±$674Lowest
6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$6,865Lowest
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
46.3%±45.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
78.6%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 minHighest
about the MA average
29 minHighest
about the MA average
25 minLowest
15% below MA
Work from home
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.9%±5.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #214 of 282 in MA
School district — Dedham —
High school in town — Dedham High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
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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.