Compare towns
Dedham vs Holbrook vs Townsend
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 people working from home (20%).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Holbrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
11,380 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Holbrook 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% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Holbrook and Townsend 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% |
19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Holbrook 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% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Holbrook 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 |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Dedham and Townsend 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 |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,105 about the MA average |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Townsend 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.