Compare towns
Hudson vs Dedham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Hudson | Dedham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Lowest |
25,237 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Dedham | Salem |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Dedham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
10.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.