Dedham shares a border with West Roxbury and Hyde Park, which makes it one of the easiest first steps out of Boston. You keep your Boston job, your friends, and a short drive into the city, and you gain a yard, a driveway, and quieter streets. The numbers help too: Dedham’s median home value is about $661,800, below Boston’s citywide median of about $731,700, and about 73 percent of Dedham homes are owner-occupied, compared with about 36 percent in Boston. To make the switch smoothly, learn what changes day to day, pick a neighborhood that fits your commute, and time your move around Route 1 and VFW Parkway traffic.
Stark Moving and Storage helps Boston residents move to Dedham, Westwood, and Needham, and many of our Dedham customers are leaving a city apartment for their first house. We handle the jump in volume that comes with it, plus packing, storage, and piano moving. Here is what life in Dedham looks like and how to plan the move.
Dedham Facts and Figures
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Dedham QuickFacts shows a town of about 25,731 people with a median household income of about $128,955. The median rent is about $2,042 a month, and the average commute is about 29 minutes.
City Life vs Dedham Life: What Changes
| Daily life | In Boston | In Dedham |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Mostly rentals and condos | Mostly owned single-family homes |
| Parking | Resident permits, street spots | Driveways and garages |
| Getting around | Subway and buses | Car, plus commuter rail |
| Shopping | Corner stores and city blocks | Legacy Place and Route 1 |
| Outdoor space | Shared parks | Your own yard, plus town parks |
| Pace | Busy, dense | Quieter, residential |
The biggest adjustment for most people is the car. Most errands in Dedham are a drive, not a walk. If you are not sure you want to leave the city yet, our guide to the best Boston neighborhoods covers in-city options with more space.
Dedham’s Neighborhoods, From Dedham Square to Greenlodge
Dedham Square is the historic center, with the Norfolk County courthouse, restaurants, and shops. Homes here are older and some streets have tight parking.
Oakdale sits just south of the square, with colonials and capes on tree-lined streets. It is popular with young families.
East Dedham is closest to Boston, with more two-family homes and lower prices.
Greenlodge and Riverdale offer quiet residential streets, with Riverdale close to the Charles River.
Endicott surrounds the Endicott Estate and has some of the larger homes in town, along with a commuter rail stop.
Budgeting for Life in Norfolk County
The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates these yearly costs for Norfolk County:
| Expense | One adult, per year |
|---|---|
| Housing | $31,035 |
| Food | $5,211 |
| Transportation | $8,425 |
| Income needed before taxes | $75,532 |
For a family with two working adults and two children, the estimate rises to about $201,954 a year before taxes.
Norfolk County includes some of the priciest towns in the state, such as Wellesley and Needham, so Dedham’s housing costs often come in below the county average. New homeowners should also budget for property taxes, a second car, and lawn and snow care.
Getting Into Boston From Dedham
- Commuter rail: the Franklin line stops at Endicott and Dedham Corporate Center and runs to South Station
- By car: Route 1, the VFW Parkway, and Route 128 lead into Boston and the western suburbs
- By bus: MBTA buses connect parts of Dedham to the Forest Hills Orange Line station
Rush hour on Route 1 and the VFW Parkway can be slow. Our guide to Boston traffic explains the worst times to be on the road.
Schools and Learning in Dedham
Dedham Public Schools enrolls about 2,700 students, with a student-teacher ratio of about 10 to 1, among the smaller class sizes in the area. Niche gives the district an overall grade of B plus. Dedham High School serves the whole town, and several private schools are also in Dedham.
Crime Rates in Dedham
NeighborhoodScout, using FBI data for 2024, reports about 2.7 violent crimes and 13.2 property crimes per 1,000 residents. Both are below the national medians of about 4 and 18. Much of the property crime is tied to the busy retail areas along Route 1, while the residential neighborhoods are quieter.
Weekends in Dedham
- Legacy Place: an outdoor shopping center with restaurants and a movie theater
- Endicott Estate: a historic mansion and grounds owned by the town
- Wilson Mountain Reservation: wooded trails with views, right in town
- The Charles River: canoeing and kayaking along the town’s western edge
- Dedham Square: local restaurants and the Dedham Community Theatre
Dedham Weather by Season
According to BestPlaces, Dedham’s July high averages about 83 degrees and its January low about 18 degrees. The town gets about 47 inches of snow and about 49 inches of rain a year, with about 201 sunny days. Winters are close to Boston’s, but now the shoveling is your job, not the landlord’s.
The Upsides and Downsides of Dedham
| Upsides | Downsides |
|---|---|
| Right next to Boston | Car needed for most errands |
| Home prices below Boston’s median | Few rentals |
| Small class sizes in public schools | Route 1 traffic |
| Shopping, trails, and river access | Commuter rail runs less often than the T |
Planning a Short Move From Boston
A Boston to Dedham move is a local move billed by the hour. The drive is short, so the size of the home and the access at both ends set the price.
Tip: Moving from a city apartment to a house usually means buying furniture you never needed before. Have big deliveries come after your movers finish, so the driveway and doorways stay clear on move day.
Common Questions About Dedham
Is Dedham a good first suburb after Boston?
For many people, yes. It borders Boston, so your commute and social life change very little, while you gain space, a yard, and quieter streets.
Is Dedham cheaper than Boston?
For buyers, often yes. Dedham’s median home value is about $661,800, compared with about $731,700 for Boston, according to the Census Bureau.
Do I need a car in Dedham?
Most residents do. The commuter rail and a few bus routes help with trips to Boston, but most errands require driving.
How are the schools in Dedham?
Niche gives Dedham Public Schools a B plus. The district has about 2,700 students and a student-teacher ratio of about 10 to 1.
Is Dedham a safe town?
NeighborhoodScout reports violent and property crime rates below the national median. Much of the property crime happens near the Route 1 shopping areas.
What is there to do in Dedham on weekends?
Residents shop and eat at Legacy Place, hike Wilson Mountain, paddle the Charles River, and visit the Endicott Estate. Dedham Square also has local restaurants and a community theater.
Hire Local Movers in Dedham, MA
If you are comparing other suburbs, our guides to moving to Quincy and moving to Newton cover two nearby choices, and our list of the best Boston suburbs compares 10 towns. When you are ready to book, our movers in Dedham know the town’s older homes, narrow driveways, and Route 1 traffic.
Stark Moving and Storage makes the jump from a Boston apartment to a Dedham house easier, with local moving, packing and unpacking, and storage for anything that does not fit yet. As a BBB accredited company, we focus on honest pricing and efficient crews. Call (866) 656-6028 for an estimate on your move to Dedham.