Compare towns
Dedham vs Heath vs Dedham vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Heath | Dedham | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
765Lowest |
25,237 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Heath and Dedham 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
— | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Dedham 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 |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Boston 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | — | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 18.7Highest |
| 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.