Compare towns

Dedham vs Easthampton vs Dedham vs Boston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).

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.

MeasureDedhamEasthamptonDedhamBoston
People
Population
25,237
16,086Lowest
25,237
666,442Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
12% above MA
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
44.6±1.6
12% above MA
33.3±0.2Lowest
17% below MA
Easthampton 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
MA: 19.4%
15.5%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.1%±0.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
23.9%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
13%±0.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Easthampton 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
MA: 47.3%
38%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
54.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
15%±0.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$71,673±$7kLowest
31% below MA
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$97,344±$2k
6% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16k
18% above MA
$371,500±$15kLowest
34% below MA
$661,800±$16k
18% above MA
$731,700±$10kHighest
30% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
16% above MA
$1,292±$70Lowest
27% below MA
$2,042±$182
16% above MA
$2,147±$25Highest
22% above MA
Boston and Dedham 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
$4,932
18% below MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$4,456Lowest
26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.5%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.2%±1.2
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
8%
MA: 10%
5.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
16.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
35.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
8 yrs older than MA
1966Highest
2 yrs newer than MA
1956
8 yrs older than MA
1947Lowest
17 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
22 minLowest
23% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
30 minHighest
4% above MA
Work from home
20%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
19%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
21.3%±0.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Boston 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 #92 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #258 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Easthampton — Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston
High school in town Dedham High Easthampton High — Boston Latin School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4
9.8Lowest
—
18.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.