Compare towns
Dedham vs Ashburnham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
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 | Ashburnham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
6,415Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,807±$1kLowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Ashburnham-Westminster | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | — |
| 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.