Compare towns
Salem vs Dedham vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
25,237 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Salem 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 | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Dedham | Sutton |
| High school in town | Salem High | Dedham High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.