Compare towns
Medford vs Dedham vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medford has the most people working from home (26.8%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Waltham 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 | Medford | Dedham | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,354 |
25,237Lowest |
64,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.9±1 10% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8kHighest 25% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$120,216±$7kLowest 16% above MA |
| Medford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23kHighest 34% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$748,700±$27k 33% above MA |
| Medford and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,268±$79 29% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,286 5% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Medford and Waltham 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 | #203 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | Dedham | Waltham |
| High school in town | Medford High | Dedham High | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.4Highest |
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.