Compare towns
Dedham vs Dorset vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Dorset | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,092 |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dedham | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.