Compare towns
Rowley vs Dedham vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k 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 | Rowley | Dedham | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
25,237Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Dedham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Dedham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Dedham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865 15% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Hatfield 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.