Compare towns
Reading vs Suffield vs Dedham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Reading | Suffield | Dedham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
15,702Lowest |
25,237 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Suffield School District | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Suffield High School | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.9 |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.