Compare towns
Salem vs Stoughton 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 the most renters (50.3% rent).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Stoughton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
29,225 |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Stoughton and Dedham 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% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Stoughton 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% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Stoughton and Dedham 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 |
$6,215 4% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Dedham 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% |
8.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #196 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Stoughton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Salem High | Stoughton High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.8Highest |
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.