Compare towns
Auburn vs Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most kids (21% under 18).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Belchertown has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
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 | Auburn | Dedham | Ogunquit | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,970 |
25,237Highest |
1,379Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,711±$10k 45% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16k 20% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 4% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,292±$230Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289 70% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Dedham | — | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Dedham High | — | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 11.9 |
| 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.