Compare towns
Somerset vs Dedham vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Somerset | Dedham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,298Lowest |
25,237Highest |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
| Somerset and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pembroke and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Somerset and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
| Pembroke and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,977Lowest 17% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke 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 | #132 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Dedham | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | Dedham High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.