Compare towns
Dedham vs Erving vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Erving | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,703 |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Wendell 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% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell and Erving 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Wendell 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 |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Wendell 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Erving | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.