Compare towns
Dedham vs Middleton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Middleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,816Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Middleton | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.