Compare towns
Newton 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
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Newton | Peabody | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
54,695Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Newton and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Newton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Lowest 19% above 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 | $8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #228 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional 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.