Compare towns
Salisbury 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
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Salisbury | Dedham | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
25,237Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Dedham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 | #240 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.