Compare towns
Milton vs Dedham vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Milton | Dedham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
25,237Lowest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Walpole and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Milton and Walpole 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Dedham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Milton High | Dedham High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.