Compare towns
Appleton vs Dedham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Appleton | Dedham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,656Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Washington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$4,321Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.