Compare towns
Wenham vs Dedham vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% 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 | Wenham | Dedham | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
25,237Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Bolton and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Wenham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Dedham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.