Compare towns
Dedham vs Hudson 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).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Hudson | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
20,077 |
9,281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
| 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 |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hudson | Triton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hudson High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
10.2Lowest |
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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.