Compare towns
Dedham vs Webster vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Webster | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,227Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.