Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Sterling vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Sterling | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
25,237 |
8,183Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% 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% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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 MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Sterling and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,699±$161Lowest 4% 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 |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Wachusett | 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 |
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.