Compare towns
Dedham vs Plainville vs Wrentham
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).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Wrentham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Plainville | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,943Lowest |
12,297 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
| Wrentham 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% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wrentham 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Wrentham 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 |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
| Wrentham 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 |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$654,900±$26k 17% above MA |
| Dedham and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
| Dedham and Plainville 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 |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$7,373 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Plainville 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Plainville | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.