Compare towns
Douglas vs Dedham vs Lakeville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Douglas | Dedham | Lakeville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
25,237Highest |
11,944 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.8±1.9Lowest 9% above MA |
| Dedham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lakeville and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$133,984±$11k 29% above MA |
| Douglas and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$565,900±$27k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,884±$466 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,536Lowest 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±18.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lakeville and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
15.2%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Dedham 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #96 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Dedham | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Dedham High | Apponequet Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
10.4 |
10.9Highest |
| 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.