Compare towns
Wendell vs Dedham vs Erving vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Wendell | Dedham | Erving | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 850Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,703 |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
| Wendell and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519 25% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.3% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Wendell 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | Dedham | Erving | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.