Compare towns
Dedham vs Middleton vs Stow 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 the most homeowners (92.7%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Stow | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,816 |
7,165Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%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 |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Stow and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Middleton and Stow 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 |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% 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 |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Middleton | Nashoba | — |
| 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 History | None yet | 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.