Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
25,237Highest |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
47.8±6.8Highest 20% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±7.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$131,568±$34kHighest 27% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$418,400±$29kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,009±$225Lowest 14% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,410Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | — |
| 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.