Compare towns
Dedham vs Hull vs Reading
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 renters (26.6% rent).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Hull | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
10,138Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Hull and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hull | Reading |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hull High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
8.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.