Compare towns
Foxborough vs Lee vs Dedham vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Foxborough | Lee | Dedham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,615 |
5,719Lowest |
25,237 |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,833±$9k 11% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Walpole and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70 5% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Walpole and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275 21% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | Lee | Dedham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | Lee Middle/High School | Dedham High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.2Lowest |
10.4 |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 20 photos → | 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.