What is the cost of living in Dedham, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dedham has an overall cost of living index of 154, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Dedham has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Dedham ranks as #80 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Dedham ranks as the #33 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Dedham, check out:
Dedham Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dedham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dedham is 106.
The Groceries index in Dedham is 112.
The Health index in Dedham is 242.
The Housing index in Dedham is 116.
The Transportation index in Dedham is 115.
The Utilities index in Dedham is 114.
| Living Expense | Dedham | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 154 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 242 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 114 | 100 |
Dedham Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Dedham, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Dedham is $765,656.
The Median Rent in Dedham is $2,042.
The Median Income in Dedham is $128,955.
The Home Value To Income in Dedham is 5.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dedham is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Dedham | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $765,656 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,042 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $128,955 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.9x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Dedham, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Dedham Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Dedham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Dedham Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Dedham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Dedham Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Dedham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Dedham Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Dedham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Dedham Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Dedham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Dedham SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dedham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dedham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.3x Dedham.
Brookline, MA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.4x Dedham.
Arlington, MA has a cost of living index of 173, 1.1x Dedham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.3x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.4x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.1x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.4x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.3x |
| Norwood, MA | 31,542 | 150 | 1.0x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.6x |
| Milton, MA | 28,587 | 168 | 1.1x |
| Winchester, MA | 23,406 | 210 | 1.4x |
| Medfield, MA | 6,849 | 168 | 1.1x |
