Compare towns
Dedham vs Lancaster vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.
| Measure | Dedham | Lancaster | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,606Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | None 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.