The Town FilesDedham, Massachusetts
Community in Norfolk County · population 25,364 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $661,800
- Household income
- $128,955
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.6
Dedham is a community of 25,364 people in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $661,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more vibrant than 93% of Massachusetts towns, better transit than 93% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 91% of Massachusetts towns.
How Dedham ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dedham is worth $661,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $128,955, which is more affordable than 35% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,042 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dedham | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $661,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,042 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $128,955 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Dedham
| People | Dedham | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.0% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.3% | — |
| Work from home | 20.0% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Dedham
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 43.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 69.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dedham since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 21, 1956 about 5.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 18, 1990.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Norfolk County since 1996
Norfolk County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Norfolk County
Norfolk County had 346,327 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,497 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Dedham itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Dedham
14 public schools with 5,219 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedham High | 9-12 | 731 | 11.4 |
| Dedham Middle School | 6-8 | 543 | 9.5 |
| Lyndon K-8 School | PK-8 | 528 | 12.3 |
| Ohrenberger School | 3-8 | 448 | 10.2 |
| Academy Of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School (charter) | 5-12 | 440 | 8.1 |
| Kilmer K-8 School | PK-8 | 371 | 9.3 |
| Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 344 | 13.8 |
| Avery | 1-5 | 322 | 11.5 |
| Greenlodge | 1-5 | 310 | 11.1 |
| Bates Elementary School | PK-6 | 279 | 10.3 |
| Beethoven Elementary School | PK-2 | 262 | 11.9 |
| Oakdale | 1-5 | 256 | 11.6 |
Towns near Dedham
- Westwood, MA2.7 mi · 16,266 people · home $1,041,500
- Needham, MA4.0 mi · 32,091 people · home $1,188,500
- Norwood, MA4.2 mi · 31,611 people · home $651,700
- Milton, MA5.0 mi · 28,630 people · home $933,200
- Canton, MA5.6 mi · 24,370 people · home $710,600
- Brookline, MA5.7 mi · 63,191 people · home $1,246,800
- Dover, MA5.8 mi · 5,923 people · home $1,340,300
- Newton, MA6.0 mi · 88,923 people · home $1,264,900
Dedham questions
Is Dedham, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dedham scores better for retirees than 35% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 13%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Dedham?
The median owner-occupied home in Dedham is valued at $661,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $128,955, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $2,042 a month.
What is the weather like in Dedham?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.9 inches of precipitation a year and 69.3 inches of snow.
Does Dedham get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dedham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 21, 1956. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)