Compare towns
Dedham vs Dublin vs Salem
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 highest household income ($129k).
Dublin has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Dublin | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,688Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dublin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin 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% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin and Salem 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Contoocook Valley School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.