Compare towns
Dedham vs Salem vs Salisbury
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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salem | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
44,795Highest |
9,281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
| Dedham and Salem 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Salem | Triton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| 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.