Compare towns
Dedham vs North Reading vs Reading
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 renters (26.6% rent).
North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | North Reading | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
15,765Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and North 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 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% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Reading and North Reading 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 |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| North Reading and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | North Reading | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | North Reading High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.