Compare towns
Salem vs Mansfield vs Dedham
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%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Salem | Mansfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
23,931Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above 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 |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Mansfield 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Mansfield | Dedham |
| High school in town | Salem High | Mansfield High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.