Compare towns

Dedham vs Hanson vs Sutton

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 expensive homes ($662k median).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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.

MeasureDedhamHansonSutton
People
Population
25,237Highest
10,660
9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Highest
12% above MA
42.8±3Lowest
7% above MA
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
Dedham and Sutton 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%
21.6%±3.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
Hanson and Sutton 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%
19.7%±3
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Dedham and Hanson 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%
42.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
52.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10kLowest
24% above MA
$132,200±$10k
27% above MA
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% above MA
Sutton and Hanson 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
$533,900±$36k
5% below MA
$523,100±$47kLowest
7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,821±$860
3% above MA
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
Dedham and Hanson 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
$6,402Lowest
7% above MA
$6,763
13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson 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%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
about the MA average
34 minHighest
15% above MA
30 min
about the MA average
Work from home
20%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Sutton 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 #149 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Whitman-Hanson Sutton
High school in town Dedham High Whitman Hanson Regional Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
14.7Highest
12.6
On TownTapestry
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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.