Compare towns
Dedham vs Lynn vs Dedham vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Lynn | Dedham | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
101,709 |
25,237Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Dedham 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 |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Dedham 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% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston and Dedham 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Lynn | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Lynn English High | — | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
15.0 |
— | 18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.