Compare towns
Dedham vs Everett vs Holyoke vs Foxborough
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 most people working from home (20%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Holyoke has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Foxborough has the most kids (22% 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 | Everett | Holyoke | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
50,045Highest |
37,813 |
18,615Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
40±1.6 about the MA average |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Foxborough 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Holyoke 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
58.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dedham 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$115,833±$9k 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,843±$70 5% above MA |
| Everett 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Foxborough 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Everett | Holyoke · Springfield | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Everett High | Holyoke High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
12.5Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.