Compare towns

Dedham vs Dedham vs Wareham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

MeasureDedhamDedhamWareham
People
Population
25,237Highest
25,237Highest
23,302Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
52.1±3.1Highest
30% above MA
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
21.9%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
26.2%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Wareham 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%
27.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$90,383±$11kLowest
13% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$424,500±$21kLowest
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,504±$180Lowest
15% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$4,341Lowest
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±23.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%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 minHighest
about the MA average
29 minHighest
about the MA average
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #272 of 282 in MA
School district — Dedham Wareham
High school in town — Dedham High Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Highest
8.6Lowest
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.