Compare towns
Barnard vs Calais vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Barnard | Calais | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,713 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | — | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.