Compare towns
Dalton vs Seabrook 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
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Dalton | Seabrook | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
8,427 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Seabrook and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,349±$15k 4% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$443,500±$40k 33% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,785 85% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #114 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Seabrook School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.