Compare towns
Dedham vs Ashfield 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
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Ashfield | Dedham | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,893Lowest |
25,237 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below 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 | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield 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% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%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 |
1967Highest 3 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 |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Mohawk Trail | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | — | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 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.