Compare towns
Dedham vs Oxford vs Sutton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Oxford | Sutton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
13,385 |
9,452Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Sutton 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% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Dedham 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 |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Sutton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Dedham 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Oxford | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Oxford High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.