Compare towns
Dedham vs Acton vs Dedham vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Acton | Dedham | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
24,155Lowest |
25,237 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Acton-Boxborough | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.5 |
— | 18.7Highest |
| 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.