Compare towns
Dedham vs Erving vs Wales
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Wales has the most kids (23.1% 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 | Erving | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,703Lowest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$89,006±$6k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,534 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Wales 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dedham | Erving | Wales |
| 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.