Compare towns
Dedham vs Framingham vs Salem
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 homeowners (73.4%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Framingham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
72,399Highest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham 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% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Framingham 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 |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Framingham 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 |
$6,884 15% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Salem |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Framingham High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
12.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.