Compare towns
Dedham vs Saugus vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Saugus | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
28,773Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Saugus and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dedham | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.