Compare towns
Dedham vs Eden vs Lowell vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Eden | Lowell | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,351 |
1,070Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.7±1.9 3% below U.S. |
32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$83,578±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$215,900±$27k 35% below U.S. |
$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,300±$441 8% below U.S. |
$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,313 6% above U.S. |
$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
38 min 45% above U.S. |
55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Lowell School District | — |
| 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 | 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.