Compare towns
Dedham vs Lynn vs Saugus vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Saugus | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
101,709Highest |
28,773 |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Saugus 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 |
$5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 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%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Lynn | Saugus | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Lynn English High | Saugus High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
15.0 |
15.5Highest |
— |
| 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.