Compare towns
Dedham vs Reading vs Reading vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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 | Reading | Reading | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Reading | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | — | Reading Memorial High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.