Compare towns
Nelson vs Peabody vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Nelson | Peabody | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
54,695Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #228 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nelson School District | Peabody | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.