| Index | Dedham | Massachusetts | National |
| Cost of living | 152 | 131 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 109 | 100 |
| Health care | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 241 | 169 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 117 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 114 | 115 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 109 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 126 | 127 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Dedham is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Dedham is 152, which is 52% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Dedham may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Dedham falls within this bracket.
Housing costs significantly influence the Dedham cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 141.2%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Is Dedham an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Dedham is 162.6% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 91.3% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Dedham has a median household income of $154,059, which is 89.4% higher than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Dedham, the groceries index is 6.2% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Dedham, healthcare costs are 12% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Dedham starts at 6.25% and the income tax rates start at 5%.
The Dedham cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $190,564 | $15,880 | $4,446 | $5,717 |
| Renters | $77,692 | $6,474 | $1,813 | $2,331 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Massachusetts | 5% | 9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Southfield, MA | 0 | 115 | 14.6% |
| Randolph, MA | 34,560 | 123 | 23.3% |
| Brockton, MA | 98,714 | 126 | 25.9% |
| Holbrook, MA | 11,361 | 128 | 28.4% |
| Maynard, MA | 11,308 | 133 | 32.8% |
| Dedham, MA | 26,137 | 152 | 51.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Coral Terrace, FL | 26,129 | 127 | 27.4% |
| Haines City, FL | 26,146 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Austin, MN | 26,125 | 91 | 8.7% |
| Zanesville, OH | 26,125 | 83 | 16.5% |
| Reading, MA | 26,111 | 161 | 61.5% |
| Dedham, MA | 26,137 | 152 | 51.6% |
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