Compare towns
Sunderland vs Dedham vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Deerfield has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sunderland | Dedham | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,641Lowest |
25,237Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Dedham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,100±$52k 19% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,672±$151 5% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,611Lowest 6% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sunderland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 41% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 min 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Deerfield 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 | #220 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sunderland | Dedham | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.