Compare towns
Dedham vs Hatfield vs Salisbury
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).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Hatfield | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
3,325Lowest |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Hatfield 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Dedham 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hatfield | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Smith Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
6.1Lowest |
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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.