Compare towns
Northbridge vs Salem vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Northbridge | Salem | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Lowest |
44,795Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Dedham 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Salem | Dedham |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Salem High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.