Compare towns
Baltimore vs Dedham vs Cavendish vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltimore has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Baltimore | Dedham | Cavendish | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,242 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Baltimore and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cavendish and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16k 33% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,400±$27kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329 39% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Cavendish 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.