Compare towns
Templeton vs Dedham vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Templeton has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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 | Templeton | Dedham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Lowest |
25,237Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,154±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Dedham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554Lowest 24% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Templeton 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 | #244 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Dedham | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Dedham High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.