Compare towns
Dedham vs Dunstable vs Pepperell
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Dunstable | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
3,408Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Pepperell 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Dunstable and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Dedham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex |
| 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 |
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.