Compare towns
Dedham vs Cavendish 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
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Cavendish | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,242Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Cavendish and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cavendish and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | Dedham | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| 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 | 18 photos → | 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.