Compare towns
Boston vs Dedham vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Boston | Dedham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
25,237 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Boston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Boston 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Dedham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Dedham High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.