Compare towns
Dedham vs Sterling vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Sterling | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,183Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Sterling 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 |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Wachusett | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.