Compare towns
Foxborough vs Marblehead vs Sharon vs Dedham
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%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Marblehead | Sharon | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,615 |
20,413 |
18,574Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Sharon and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$737,100±$33k 31% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70 5% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Sharon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275Lowest 21% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Sharon 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 | #138 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | Marblehead | Sharon | Dedham |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | Marblehead High | Sharon High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.7 |
11.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.