Compare towns
Dedham vs Ayer vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,645Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Dedham 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.