Compare towns
Dedham vs Ipswich vs Wrentham
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 youngest population (median age 44.6).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Ipswich | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
13,930 |
12,297Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
46.8±3.2 17% above MA |
| Ipswich and Wrentham 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% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wrentham and Ipswich 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%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Wrentham 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 |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
| Wrentham and Ipswich 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 |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$654,900±$26kLowest 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$7,373Lowest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ipswich | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | — | Ipswich High | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.