Compare towns
Dedham vs Worcester vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
207,055Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.