Compare towns
Woburn vs Dedham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k 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 | Woburn | Dedham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,939 |
25,237Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Woburn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Woburn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #169 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Woburn | Dedham | Salem |
| High school in town | Woburn High | Dedham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.