Compare towns
Dedham vs Milton vs Reading vs Foxborough
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Milton | Reading | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
18,615Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Reading 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Reading 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% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,843±$70 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Reading 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 |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$7,275Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Milton | — | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Milton High | — | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.4Highest |
— | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.