Compare towns
Heath vs Dedham vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Heath | Dedham | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
25,237Highest |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Dedham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
| Dedham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | Rowe |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.