Compare towns
Foxborough vs Maynard 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%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).
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 | Maynard | Sharon | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,615 |
10,712Lowest |
18,574 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Maynard and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Foxborough 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Maynard 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70 5% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest 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 |
$8,266 38% 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% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2 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% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% MA: 62.5% |
75% 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 |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sharon and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | Maynard | Sharon | Dedham |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | Maynard High | Sharon High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
9.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.