Compare towns
Ludlow vs Dedham vs Rockland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Rockland has the most kids (20.2% 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 | Ludlow | Dedham | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
25,237Highest |
17,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rockland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$112,405±$12k 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$472,900±$21k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,610±$255 9% below MA |
| Dedham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,487 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.7%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Rockland 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #175 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Dedham | Rockland |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Dedham High | Rockland Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.