Compare towns
Reading vs Dedham vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Reading | Dedham | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
25,237Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,605Lowest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dedham | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.