Compare towns
Berlin vs Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Northfield
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 most kids (18.6% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Berlin | Dedham | Ogunquit | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
25,237Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Dedham | — | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| 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.