Compare towns
Dedham vs Peabody vs Salem
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 highest household income ($129k).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Peabody | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
54,695Highest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody 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% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Peabody | Salem |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
10.3 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.