Compare towns
Florida vs Dedham vs New Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
New Salem has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Florida | Dedham | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 668Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,054 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
55.6±2.4 39% above MA |
| Florida and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,194±$88 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,509 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and New Salem 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Florida | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.