Compare towns
Salem vs Dedham vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Salem | Dedham | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
25,237Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwood and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$107,030±$11k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$651,700±$13k 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA |
| Norwood and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,111Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5Lowest 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 | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | — | Norwood |
| High school in town | Salem High | — | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| 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.