Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dedham vs Sunderland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Deerfield | Dedham | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
25,237Highest |
3,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
62.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA |
| Dedham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$458,100±$52k 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,672±$151 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,611Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sunderland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 40% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
17 minLowest 41% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #220 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Dedham | Sunderland |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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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.