Compare towns
Hadley vs Dedham vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Hadley | Dedham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
25,237Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Dedham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Dedham | Triton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| 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.