Compare towns
Dedham vs Middleton vs Salisbury
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 most kids (18.6% under 18).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,816 |
5,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
| Salisbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #240 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 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.