Compare towns
Dedham vs Marion vs Wareham
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 youngest population (median age 44.6).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
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 | Marion | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
5,310Lowest |
23,302 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Wareham 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% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Dedham 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 |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Marion 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±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Dedham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,766 4% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion 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% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Marion | Wareham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| 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.