Compare towns
Holbrook vs Dedham vs Braintree Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holbrook has the most affordable homes ($465k median).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Braintree Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Holbrook | Dedham | Braintree Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Lowest |
25,237 |
38,899Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.3±1.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Dedham and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±1.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Holbrook and Braintree Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Braintree Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$122,214±$10k 18% above MA |
| Dedham and Braintree Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,400±$21kLowest 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$656,800±$14k 17% above MA |
| Dedham and Braintree Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,024±$195 15% above MA |
| Dedham and Braintree Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,436Lowest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Braintree Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Braintree Town 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #84 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Dedham | Braintree |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Dedham High | Braintree High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
10.4Lowest |
15.7Highest |
| 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.