Compare towns

Dedham vs Ipswich vs Dedham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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.

MeasureDedhamIpswichDedham
People
Population
25,237Highest
13,930Lowest
25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
47.2±3.5Highest
18% above MA
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
Ipswich and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.9%±2.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ipswich 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%
21.9%±2.4
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
60.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
55%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10kLowest
24% above MA
$138,750±$16kHighest
33% above MA
$128,955±$10kLowest
24% above MA
Ipswich and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16kLowest
18% above MA
$745,400±$40kHighest
33% above MA
$661,800±$16kLowest
18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,598±$90Lowest
9% below MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918Lowest
32% above MA
$7,960Highest
33% above MA
$7,918Lowest
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.5%±12.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.7%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
74.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1964Highest
same as MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
about the MA average
29 minHighest
about the MA average
29 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.9%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA #101 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Ipswich —
High school in town Dedham High Ipswich High —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Highest
9.0Lowest
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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.