Compare towns
Dedham vs Maynard vs Acton
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Maynard | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
10,712Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Acton 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 |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.