Population 24,703 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dedham
Household size in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Dedham are small: just 2.34 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.47, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.2 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.6 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Dedham skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 43.3 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.3% of households in Dedham, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Dedham
Renters in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.7% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.6% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.3% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Dedham own their homes; 27.0% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 33.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.3% of homes in Dedham are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.5 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1951 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Dedham is a place of older homes: half were built before 1960, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1951 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,337 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,532 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,867 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,117 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$780 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Dedham pays $2,117 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $780 a month from 2006–10, a 58% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 35.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Dedham
Bachelor's degrees in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 47.3% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.0% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.7% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.2 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Dedham: 55.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 14.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.5% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.2% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.7% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Dedham is above the national rate: 93.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.1 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Compared with other Massachusetts cities, though, Dedham has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Dedham
| Period | Dedham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Dedham runs below the national rate: 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.6 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Dedham compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedham | 2.34 | 45.6 | 8.3% | 27.0% | 4.3% | 1960 | $2,117 | 55.7% | 93.7% | 3.5% |
| Hyde Park | 2.82 | 39.0 | 19.8% | 45.5% | 4.5% | 1955 | $1,967 | 36.7% | 89.2% | 6.6% |
| West Roxbury | 2.32 | 43.9 | 8.8% | 33.7% | 9.6% | 1952 | $2,255 | 66.4% | 95.7% | 3.9% |
| Westwood | 2.95 | 43.7 | 5.2% | 12.6% | 4.7% | 1970 | $2,595 | 72.8% | 95.7% | 1.9% |
| Roslindale | 2.49 | 40.5 | 10.2% | 41.8% | 5.8% | 1947 | $2,127 | 53.4% | 91.5% | 5.5% |
| Norwood | 2.37 | 41.8 | 9.2% | 46.0% | 4.2% | 1961 | $1,895 | 55.2% | 93.4% | 3.7% |
| Milton | 3.02 | 39.8 | 10.1% | 15.1% | 4.0% | 1952 | $1,861 | 73.8% | 96.1% | 4.2% |
| Needham | 2.74 | 43.5 | 6.5% | 16.9% | 4.3% | 1968 | $2,423 | 81.9% | 97.8% | 4.1% |
| Mattapan | 2.90 | 37.3 | 25.3% | 60.4% | 7.3% | 1952 | $1,645 | 21.8% | 85.7% | 11.5% |
| Chestnut Hill | 2.70 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 7.5% | 1951 | $2,737 | 85.4% | 96.4% | 3.0% |
| Newton Highlands | 2.55 | 43.9 | 3.9% | 29.2% | 5.3% | 1950 | $2,340 | 85.3% | 97.7% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Franklin Square, NY · South Elgin, IL · Solon, OH · Soddy-Daisy, TN · Smyrna, DE · Silver Bell, AZ · Shirley, NY · Selden, NY · Seal Beach, CA · Scotch Plains, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Dedham. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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