Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dedham vs Upton vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
South Hampton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Amesbury | Dedham | Upton | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
25,237Highest |
8,189 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Upton and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Upton and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
| Dedham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Dedham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Amesbury | Dedham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Dedham High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.4Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.