Compare towns
Dedham vs Douglas vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Douglas | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,207Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Webster 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Dedham and Douglas 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 |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Douglas | Webster |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Douglas High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
7.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.