Compare towns
Dedham vs Hadley vs Rowley vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Hadley | Rowley | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
5,306Lowest |
6,251 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Rowley 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hadley | Triton | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hopkins Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
7.3Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.