Compare towns
Dedham vs Lancaster vs Dedham vs Foxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,606Lowest |
25,237Highest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough and Lancaster 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%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
58.3%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% |
4.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% 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 |
$606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,843±$70Lowest 5% 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 |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.7%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% |
73.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest 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 | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Dedham | Foxborough |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.