Compare towns
Dedham vs Peabody vs Topsfield
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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Peabody has the most renters (34.4% rent).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
54,695Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| 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%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Peabody 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 |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Dedham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Peabody | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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| 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.