Compare towns
Dedham vs Middleton vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,816 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Middleton 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 60% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dedham | Middleton | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.