Compare towns
Dedham vs Nelson vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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 | Nelson | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
648Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Nelson School District | — |
| 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 |
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.