Compare towns
Middleborough vs Dedham vs Bridgewater Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Bridgewater Town has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
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 | Middleborough | Dedham | Bridgewater Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505Lowest |
25,237 |
28,471Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
37.6±1.6Lowest 6% below MA |
| Dedham and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Middleborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
16.2%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$112,651±$7k 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Bridgewater Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$533,100±$23k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72Lowest 3% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,092±$177Highest 19% above MA |
| Bridgewater Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,499 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±13.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #170 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #121 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Dedham | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Dedham High | Bridgewater-Raynham Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
18.1Highest |
| 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.