Compare towns

Dedham vs Everett vs Middleton

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%).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).

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.

MeasureDedhamEverettMiddleton
People
Population
25,237
50,045Highest
9,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Highest
12% above MA
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
43.1±2
8% above MA
Dedham and Middleton 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%
21.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Everett and Dedham 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%
18.1%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
Dedham and Middleton 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%
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
41.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
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±$10k
24% above MA
$85,218±$7kLowest
18% below MA
$167,402±$29kHighest
61% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16k
18% above MA
$610,000±$23kLowest
9% above MA
$742,700±$48kHighest
32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
16% above MA
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,407±$284Lowest
20% below MA
Everett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918
32% above MA
$4,880Lowest
19% below MA
$8,785Highest
47% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
25.7%±25.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
5.6%
MA: 10%
14.7%Highest
MA: 10%
3.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
92.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
8 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
about the MA average
35 minHighest
20% above MA
30 min
3% above MA
Work from home
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #71 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Everett Middleton
High school in town Dedham High Everett High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
12.1Highest
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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.