Compare towns
Dedham vs Lexington vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Lexington | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
34,295Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Lexington | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Lexington High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.