Compare towns
Ashland vs Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Ashland | Dedham | Ogunquit | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
25,237Highest |
1,379Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37kLowest 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 139% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Dedham | — | Grafton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Dedham High | — | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 12.9 |
| 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.