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Living in
Dedham.
Dedham is an unincorporated community in Norfolk County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Dedham
If you're considering Dedham, you're looking at a solidly affluent suburb with real historical significance and excellent schools—it's the kind of place where people put down roots for a decade or more. The median household income hovers around $129,000 and homes run roughly $660,000, so you'll need genuine financial stability; rent is also steep at around $2,000 monthly. The schools are genuinely strong, and the town takes education seriously with seven public schools plus several well-regarded private options.
Dedham at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Foreign-Born
14.3%
Broadband Internet
91.8%
of households
Population Growth
-0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.3% foreign-born, most often from Haiti
Who lives in Dedham: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Dedham, the largest foreign-born group is from Haiti (9.2%), and 5.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.6%
of residents
65 and Older
21.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.6%
of households
Married Couples
44.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.33
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 16% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Dedham
In Dedham, rent runs 16% above the MA average, and home values are 18% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,918
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $756,686 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Dedham
Unemployment in Norfolk County, which includes Dedham, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Dedham: Norfolk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Norfolk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Dedham is about 3% of Norfolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Dedham Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute29.3 min avg
How Dedham residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dedham, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 36% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Dedham runs 36% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
211.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,506.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Dedham Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Norfolk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Norfolk County, which includes Dedham, the most common type is strong wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12,200 |
| 2024 | 14 | High Wind | $4,200 |
| 2023 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,800 |
| 2022 | 25 | Strong Wind | $17,500 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $322,000 |
| 2020 | 57 | Strong Wind | $30.2M |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $90,800 |
| 2018 | 45 | Strong Wind | $240,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Norfolk County, county-wide
Dedham is about 3% of Norfolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Norfolk County, which includes Dedham, is typically good — 308 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
308
per year
Moderate Days
55
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Norfolk County, county-wide
Dedham is about 3% of Norfolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dedham has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.9"
Annual Snowfall
69.7"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
139
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
135
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 21°F | 3.41" |
| Feb | 42°F | 22°F | 2.80" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 3.72" |
| Apr | 61°F | 39°F | 3.96" |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 3.30" |
| Jun | 80°F | 57°F | 3.92" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 3.03" |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.63" |
| Sep | 77°F | 52°F | 3.82" |
| Oct | 66°F | 41°F | 4.54" |
| Nov | 55°F | 34°F | 3.69" |
| Dec | 44°F | 26°F | 4.09" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dedham
Dedham has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
1.5%
of residents
Walden Behavioral Care, Llc
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Bournewood Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.6 mi away · Brookline
Westwood Pembroke Health Systems
Psychiatric · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Westwood
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Needham
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dedham
Dedham's student/teacher ratio is 11.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 55.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
55.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Dedham (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
8.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dedham
Dedham has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
9 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
9 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
13 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
16 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dedham
Dedham Public Library
43 Church St., Dedham
Endicott Branch Library
257 Mount Vernon Street, Dedham
Cities Near Dedham
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Dedham?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Dedham FAQ
Is Dedham, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Dedham's median rent is $2,042/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $128,955/year. Median home value is $661,800.
Is Dedham, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Dedham's violent crime rate was 212 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1507 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dedham, Massachusetts?⌄
Norfolk County, which includes Dedham, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dedham, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Dedham is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,042/month and median household income is $128,955/year. The median home value is $661,800. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dedham, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Dedham is 29 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from