Compare towns

Dedham vs Union vs Unity

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 expensive homes ($356k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).

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.

MeasureDedhamUnionUnity
People
Population
1,656
2,663Highest
1,375Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±2.2
20% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.8%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Union and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Union and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,442±$18kHighest
38% above U.S.
$80,724±$9kLowest
about the U.S. average
$87,500±$16k
8% above U.S.
Dedham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,400±$33kHighest
7% above U.S.
$267,600±$42kLowest
20% below U.S.
$276,100±$29k
17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,422±$607
about the U.S. average
$1,179±$452Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,625±$804Highest
15% above U.S.
Unity and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,942
26% above U.S.
$3,276Lowest
5% above U.S.
$5,394Highest
73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13%±85.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
Work from home
9.3%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Union and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Dedham Public Schools RSU 40/MSAD 40 Unity School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.