Compare towns
Dedham vs Grafton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Grafton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
19,902Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton 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% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Grafton and Dedham 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 |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,117Lowest 19% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Grafton 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 | #67 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Grafton | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Grafton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.